RENEWables #53: Creating Pathways Out of Poverty & Advancing a Green Economy

RENEWables #53: Creating Pathways Out of Poverty & Advancing a Green Economy

According to a report by the Urban Institute, about one-third of Americans have a credit score below 620, which is considered to be a subprime credit score. The same report found that low-income individuals are more likely to have subprime credit scores than those with higher incomes. In fact, about 52% of households earning less than $30,000 per year have subprime credit scores.

These statistics show that low-income communities are more likely to have subprime credit scores and other negative credit events, which can make it difficult for them to access credit and financial services. This highlights the importance of organizations like Capital Good Fund that focus on serving underserved communities and providing access to affordable loans and financial coaching.

Capital Good Fund is a non-profit financial institution that provides affordable loans and financial coaching to individuals and families who might not have access to traditional banking services. They offer a variety of loan products, including personal loans, emergency loans, and small business loans. These loans are designed to help people meet their financial needs and improve their financial stability. Capital Good Fund also offers financial coaching services to help borrowers develop good financial habits and achieve their financial goals.

Join us on this episode of RENEWables and meet the Founder and CEO of Capital Good Fund, Andy Posner, to learn more about how the organization focuses on serving low-income and underserved communities, and their work to promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment for communities in need.Tune in and subscribe.

Show Notes:
Linked In
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Email Andy Posner

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

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RENEWables #52: Reusing Solar Panels for the Communities, Organizations & Individuals That Need Them the Most

RENEWables #52: Reusing Solar Panels for the Communities, Organizations & Individuals That Need Them the Most

As the world’s utilization of renewable energy increases, so does the waste that is created by manufacturing the materials needed to generate the power. Most solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years and 75 million metric tons of solar waste are projected to be landfilled by 2050. However, solar panels should not be disposed of in landfills as they contain potentially hazardous materials and other toxic substances that can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater if not properly handled. In addition, solar panels contain valuable materials such as silicon, aluminum, copper, and silver that can be recycled and reused in new products, so it is important to properly recycle them at the end of their life cycle. Although the amount of waste generated by solar panels is relatively low, recycling programs are increasingly being developed to address this issue. 

The Coldharbour Institute have taken the idea of recycling to a whole other level with their Equitable Solar Solutions (ESS) program. ESS focuses on providing affordable solar energy solutions to underserved communities, particularly low-income households and communities of color, through the acquisition of surplus solar panels from solar companies or individuals that are looking to upgrade their current solar system. While these panels are not new, they are still able to produce energy and thus still have immense value. ​By acquiring older panels, costs are drastically reduced, making financial feasibility far more achievable.

Join us on this episode of RENEWables and meet the Co-Founders of Equitable Solar Solutions, Rich Stromberg, CJ Gooderham and Maria Agazio, to learn more about how the 501.3C non-profit program finds and repurposes these usable solar panels and their plans for ensuring the sustainability of the solar industry while minimizing its environmental impact for the future generations.  

Show Notes:
Linked In
Website: EquibableSolarSolutions.com
Email: ess@coldharbourinstitute.org

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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RENEWables #51: Heartland Industries – Hemp, Standardizing Sustainable Materials & Other Technologies

RENEWables #51: Heartland Industries – Hemp, Standardizing Sustainable Materials & Other Technologies

Heartland Industries is a material science company that engineers hemp fibers to replace and augment traditional materials like fiberglass, talc, and calcium carbonate. With its renewable sources and eco-friendly biodegradability, Hemp is a revolutionary material that’s making waves in the sustainability movement. Crafted from lipids and cellulose found naturally within Cannabis plants, this composite bioplastic is fully bio-degradable – providing an innovative solution for reducing our impact on the environment.

By working with brands and their suppliers, Heartland helps to embed Carbon negative additives into everyday products without any re-tooling costs. This helps drive down the cost, weight, and carbon footprint of these raw materials which are found in a variety of industries from automotive to consumer packaged goods. Moreover, Heartland is exploring ways to increase performance in rubber, foam, asphalt, cement, concrete and paper supply chains while continuing to reduce the carbon footprint of these industries.

Join us on this episode of RENEWables and meet the CEO and Co-founder of Heartland Industries, Jesse Henry, to learn more about how the Michigan-based hemp engineers are driving their mission to integrate hemp fiber into every industry, how they have positioned themselves as a sustainability partner and the necessary sacrifice required to saving the planet for future generations.

Show Notes:
Linked In
Heartland.io
Email hello@heartland.io

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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RENEWables #50: Kanbe’s Markets is Giving Access, Delivering Food Justice & Eliminating Food Insecurity

RENEWables #50: Kanbe’s Markets is Giving Access, Delivering Food Justice & Eliminating Food Insecurity

Across the U.S., 15% of households are food insecure, meaning they don’t have reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. In Missouri alone, there are more than 600,000 people living in food deserts—an area without a grocery store or other source of fresh, healthy food, making it even harder to get the meals they need.

Kanbe’s Markets is a non-profit working to build a more equitable food system for these residents of inner city food deserts. One way they’re doing this is through their Healthy Corner Store Program which partners with smaller convenience stores and “mom-and-pop” businesses who are often the only source of groceries in a food desert, but lack the resources to provide healthy and affordable options. Kanbe’s Markets provides them with the equipment, training and support they need to offer nutritious foods at prices that their customers can afford—which, on average, is about 25% less than the grocery store.

Kanbe’s Markets is changing lives by working to dismantle the barriers that stand in the way of equitable access to nutritious food. Through their Healthy Corner Store Program and partnerships with small businesses, they are ensuring that everyone has access to fresh, healthy, affordable food—regardless of their zip code.

SHOW NOTES:
Kanbe’s Markets Website

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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RENEWables #49: Carbon Credits for Farmers & Agroforestry

RENEWables #49: Carbon Credits for Farmers & Agroforestry

Scientists have long suspected a link between industrialization and climate change, but serious study of the issue did not begin until the second half of the twentieth century when the first predictions that changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could substantially alter Earth’s surface temperature through the greenhouse effect.  It would be another 100 years before carbon credits are introduced as a mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating the $2 billion carbon credit market in which companies can offset their emissions by investing in environment-positive projects, such as planting trees in the tropics.

Join this episode of RENEWables, where we sat down with Robin Saluoks, CEO of eAgronom, to learn more about their carbon market program, what organic farming looks like in Estonia, and the short- and long-term benefits they are bringing to farmers all over the world. 

Show Notes:
eAgronom website
eAgronom Linked In

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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Solar Case Study – Pennsauken School District

Solar Case Study – Pennsauken School District

Solar Case Study | Pennsauken School District

BioStar’s development team, acquired, built, and stabilized the district’s portfolio of solar assets.

Pennsauken School District Solar project completed construction and commenced operation in October of 2018. The project delivers renewable power from solar, totaling 4MWdc, and roof replacements on 8 School buildings plus the Administrative Building in the Pennsauken School District. This project will generate over 4,500,000 kWh annually across all 9 properties for the next 25 years, saving money and reducing the district’s reliance on utility provided electricity.

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RENEWables #48: Tracking Your Favorite Brand’s Supply Chain Sustainability

RENEWables #48: Tracking Your Favorite Brand’s Supply Chain Sustainability

Survey shows that consumer expectations for the fashion industry to treat workers fairly rank as high as expectations for environmental issues. Some results even show that consumers are willing to pay more for ethically produced clothing. That’s why it’s important to create ongoing visibility into wages throughout the supply chain; the same way, it’s important to have visibility into products, materials, emissions, waste and more.

On this episode of RENEWables, we sat down with Shameek Ghosh, Co-founder and CEO of TrusTrace, to learn more about their software platform for supply chain traceability, and how they plan to alleviate challenging hurdles in the fashion industry by mapping every tier of even the most complex supply chains.

Tune in and subscribe.

Show Notes:
TrusTrace website
Shameek Ghosh Linked In
Email Shameek Ghosh

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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RENEWables #47: 2022 SuperSix Field Trials Farm Tour!

RENEWables #47: 2022 SuperSix Field Trials Farm Tour!

Your host, David Smart, and BioStar’s Chief Agronomist, Allen Philo hit the road to meet and greet farmers in the midst of BioStar’s 5th year of SuperSix field trials! BioStar is grateful that Prairie Earth Farms, Sam Knob Farm, and Twin Pines Organic Farms participated in a variety of crop trials using our SuperSix organic fertilizer. From Wisconsin to Illinois, to Indiana to Michigan, these organic farmers each have their own unique approach to growing organically, but this year, there is a common thread, using SuperSix in field trials to improve crop yield and boost fertility. 

On this episode of RENEWables you will learn about the history and crop mixture of these incredible Midwest organic farms. These conversations were recorded at farm-to-table restaurants, in the barns and even in the field! We learn about how these farmers are utilizing SuperSix and what they have learned from the trials. You will hear from the farmer some of the benefits of using SuperSix, how it is applied, and more! Tune in and subscribe.

PrairiErth Farms

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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RENEWables #46: Bell Solar & Electrical – Empowering Women in the Solar Industry

RENEWables #46: Bell Solar & Electrical – Empowering Women in the Solar Industry

Alexia Cooper has had a life-long dream of becoming the first woman anything and in 2021 when she was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 as the youngest woman in the state of Nevada to hold a C2 Electrical Contractor License, she knew her drive and dedication to that dream had been the foundation for her success.  Alexia is revolutionizing and creating opportunities for women in the construction industry as she chooses to lead by spreading positivity and empowering individuals to be the best version of themselves.

On this episode of RENEWables, we sat down with Alexia Cooper, CEO of Bell Solar & Electrical Systems, to learn more about how the Nevada based electrical company’s mission to rewire the world to build a sustainable future has evolved, her focus on finding more female engineers for the very male-dominated industry, and why she continues to push the limits in order to make an impact on the world! Tune in and subscribe.

Show Notes:
Bell Solar & Electrical Systems website
Linked In
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation.

Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here.

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RAE Lead Team Wins $80mm Grant to Develop New Climate-Smart Agriculture Value Chain

RAE Lead Team Wins $80mm Grant to Develop New Climate-Smart Agriculture Value Chain
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 Partnership Led by Roeslein Alternative Energy Wins $80 Million Grant to Develop New Climate-Smart Agriculture Value Chain 

 ‘Horizon II’ Pilot Project to Demonstrate How Farmers Get Environmental Credit Compensation and Renewable Energy Revenue by Planting Prairie Grasses and Cover Crops 

St. Louis, MO – September 14, 2022 – A partnership of 14 public and private entities led by Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) has been awarded $80 million from the federal government’s first pool of funds from the U.S.D.A’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The funding will be used in a five year pilot project in Iowa and Missouri called ‘Horizon II’ to demonstrate a “Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production.” 

The Horizon II project will enhance climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve carbon sequestration in the production of corn, soybean, pork, and beef commodities, while creating opportunities for small and underserved producers and benefitting soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitats for native wildlife. 

Horizon II: Environmental and Wildlife Benefits from Renewable Energy Production 

The grant award is a major step toward advancing RAE’s core mission to develop a market-based solution that puts an economic value on restored native grasses and prairie plants, by using the sustainably harvested biomass to create renewable natural gas. 

“Since founding RAE, our overarching goal has been to provide farmers an alternative way to use land, especially highly erodible acres, in ways that will benefit the environment, wildlife, and their own livelihood,” said Rudi Roeslein, RAE Founder and CEO. “This funding will propel Horizon II forward more rapidly than otherwise would have been possible. We will show how farmers and landowners can do well for themselves while also providing ecological services and wildlife benefits.” 

Pilot Program in Iowa and Missouri 

A pilot will be developed, deployed, and verified in Iowa and Missouri, where much of the nation’s corn, soybeans, and pork are produced. Horizon II seeks to incentivize improved management of nitrogen fertilizer and other inputs on agriculture land, which is critical to the success of climate-smart practices. 

  • • Farmers, livestock producers, and landowners will be compensated for GHG reductions and carbon sequestration in the soil through an outcomes-based carbon credit program. 
  • • Cover cropping and grassland restoration will be further incentivized through a novel, market-based program that supports renewable natural gas (RNG) production through the anaerobic digestion of herbaceous biomass combined with manure. o This renewable energy can be fed into the national grid and become part of the sustainable new value chain. 
  • • Program partners will collaborate with farmers, livestock producers, landowners, and other stakeholders, including early adopters of practices and historically underserved producers, to ensure equitable access to the opportunities offered by the low-carbon agriculture of the future. 

Horizon II Partner Organizations 

Partner organizations involved in the RAE Horizon II project are: Biostar Renewables, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa State University, Missouri Prairie Foundation, Sievers Family Farms, Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, Smithfield Foods, The Nature Conservancy, University of Missouri, Verdesian, and Veterans in Agriculture. 

“Iowa State University has been working with Roeslein Alternative Energy and many additional partners for nearly a decade, laying the foundation for a climate-smart commodity supply chain based on the anaerobic digestion of prairie grasses and winter hearty crops along with manure,” said Lisa Schulte-Moore, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and co-director of the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University. “I’m excited and thankful for this tremendous investment by USDA toward commercializing our research and development, with the goal of closing system loops to return more value from agriculture to people and the land.” 

Once fully developed, deployed, and verified, the program can be extended and tailored to other agricultural commodities (i.e., dairy, poultry) and regions of the country. While focused on GHG reduction and soil carbon storage, these climate-smart agricultural systems will add further value in terms of soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitat for native wildlife. 

“We are thrilled to partner on this transformational project that will drive adoption of prairie strips and cover crops; create clean, renewable natural gas; improve water quality, address climate change and improve America’s energy independence,” noted Sean McMahon, Executive Director of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. 

About Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC 

Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) is the owner, operator and developer of renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks to renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products. RAE engages in these business operations with a focus on incorporating native prairie restoration. RAE is a limited liability company with its principal offices located in St. Louis, Missouri. RAE was launched in 2012 by Rudi Roeslein, co-founder and CEO of St. Louis-based Roeslein and Associates, Inc. (a global leader in engineering, modular fabrication, and construction of industrial plant facilities). 

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