Blacks in Green Selected for Funding to Deploy $9.9 Million Dollar Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Initiative in its 2nd Year

Blacks in Green is one of five communities selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling initiative to install geothermal heating and cooling systems in the second phase of the initiative. 

The projects were downselected from 11 projects funded in the first phase of the initiative, where coalitions selected project sites, assessed the geothermal resource and permitting needs, conducted feasibility analysis and local engagement, and identified workforce and training needs. 

The selected project locations and leads are:



• Ann Arbor, MI -- Lead: City of Ann Arbor ($10M)
• Chicago, IL -- Lead: Blacks in Green™ ($9.9M)
• Framingham, MA -- Lead: Home Energy Efficiency Team [HEET] ($7.8M)
• Hinesburg, VT -- Lead: GTI Energy ($3M)
• Shawnee, OK -- Lead: University of Oklahoma ($7M)



Community Geothermal Emerges in Chicago

BIG led a strong coalition of community groups, government, and universities to design a community geothermal system in the West Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. The coalition selected the project site, assessed the geothermal resource and permitting needs, conducted feasibility analysis and local engagement, and identified workforce and training needs to support a community-owned heating and cooling system. The project will deploy a shared community geothermal network across multiple city blocks. The project will use geothermal energy, leveraging the Earth’s temperature to heat and cool buildings through shared underground loops that deliver heat to buildings more efficiently than gas heat, and help cool those buildings in the summer.

Year two will focus on installing the system within the multiblock footprint and advancing neighbor knowledge of alley-to-home-to-appliance interconnectivity, comfort and cost; and cultivating the possible jobs and businesses in decarbonization, including heat pump distribution and installation; HVAC upgrade design, sales, and financing; electrical energy efficiency; and building auditing and weatherization. Households will voluntarily opt-in when ready, and will enjoy significantly lower heating and cooling costs, with the expansion of central air to homes currently without it.

BIG’s Commitment To Affordability

BIG’s selection for the US Department of Energy Phase 2 geothermal initiative advances the organization’s longstanding goal of on-the-ground solutions for energy justice. BIG launched a Campaign To End Energy Poverty at its West Woodlawn headquarters in 2022, bringing together community advocates, technical allies, government officials, academic institutions, and philanthropic organizations to tackle the escalating issue of energy unaffordability. The coalition introduced PURR, the People’s Utility Rate Relief Act, into the 2023 Illinois General Assembly and continues to press for its passage. The campaign also launched Community Voices, a program that recruited and trained neighbors to share opposition and ideas about unfettered gas and electric rate increases to the Illinois Commerce Commission [ICC]. Their input was cited over 50 times in the ICC’s historic rollback of 2024 utility rate increase requests and adoption of a pioneering discount rate price structure for low and moderate-income households as outlined in the PURR legislation.

WEST WOODLAWN GEOTHERMAL PILOT GREENLIT FOR PHASE 2

Chicago was one of 11 communities across 10 states selected to design community geothermal heating and cooling systems in the first phase of the U.S. Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling initiative. This project will create a shared community geothermal network across four city blocks containing more than 100 multi-family and single-family residential buildings, as part of the community’s Sustainable Square Mile effort.  

In 2024, BIG hosted several community events to educate West Woodlawn residents about our Geothermal Pilot Program. These events covered how the pilot program would work, and the benefits of geothermal energy. We also provided residents with the opportunity to join the pilot interest list in advance.

We held monthly Green Energy Tuesdays events at the Mamie Till-Mobley Forgiveness Garden, where neighbors not only learned about the geothermal pilot but also engaged in various activities focused on green energy. Additionally, they had the chance to discover the work BIG and our partners are doing in West Woodlawn, access valuable energy-saving resources, and gain insights on how to better manage their utility bills.

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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THRIVING COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (TCTAC) LAUNCH

On February 1-3, 2024, the BIG Justice TCTAC - led by Blacks in Green and partners - launched the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC).

At the Justice Comes of Age event, attendees learned how to access the historic Biden-Harris funding available to them to transform their underserved places into thriving communities across the Midwest in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. 

The conference featured presentations and panel discussions with key BIG partners, allies, and government officials, networking opportunities, educational activities, and workshops. Most importantly, it offered TCTAC consultation sessions to anyone ready to take advantage of the TCTAC and initiate the technical assistance service delivery process of state and federal resources.

Since its launch in February 2024, the BIG Justice TCTAC has contacted and served over 350 clients. Through the technical assistance provided, four of these clients successfully applied for grants totaling more than $1.3 million and are awaiting award status.

If you're interested in signing up as a TCTAC client, complete the intake form and one of our TCTAC team members will be in touch! You can also sign up for our BIG Justice TCTAC newsletter to get the latest news straight to your inbox.



COMPLETE THE INTAKE FORM

EMMETT TILL HOUSE RESTORATION REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

In July 2023, BIG broke ground on the landmarked exterior renovation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley House. The project began with the building’s exterior brick restoration, which included grinding out old mortar, tuckpointing, and rebuilding both the inner and outer parapet walls due to deteriorated mortar. This work required tearing down sections of the brick wall and rebuilding with new mortar to secure the bricks. We’re forever grateful to the skilled masons from the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers who volunteered countless hours to complete this restoration, as well as Bricks Incorporated who generously donated the brick and masonry materials for the restoration. 

Construction on the house wrapped for the season with a roof replacement in October by Jerry & Sons Roofing & Remodeling. The company donated both labor and materials to tear off the old roof and install a new one. Additionally, they replaced the clay tile coping, which protects the bricks by diverting water off the edges - very important! 

The next step involves a final cleaning of the exterior brickwork, with all remaining work scheduled to resume in the spring. 

These improvements mark the first phase of the renovation. The vision is to transform this landmark into a cultural heritage destination house museum, garden, and community performance theatre. The future house museum will feature a sculpture by the late, esteemed sculptor Richard Hunt and an original commissioned artwork - the Wooden Quilt by Jean-Marcel St. Jacques.

Upon completion, it will serve as a hub for tourism and a cornerstone of the Sustainable Square Mile in West Woodlawn, paying homage to the profound legacy of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. 



VIEW RESTORATION PHOTOS

GREEN ENERGY JUSTICE COOPERATIVE (GEJC) SECURES FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS

GEJC, a consumer-owned clean energy cooperative, was launched by Blacks in Green and core partners to develop three industry-scale solar projects at 3 megawatts DC each, totaling 9 megawatts of solar power, to benefit community members in Illinois.  

This year has been instrumental to GEJC's progress in developing its projects. These are some of our more recent key achievements:

• Predevelopment Loan: GEJC secured a $4.05 million predevelopment loan from the Afterglow Climate Justice Fund and the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA). This enabled GEJC to complete critical project activities such as the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) deposit, Interconnection deposit, site leases, technical and engineering designs, subscriber acquisition, and community engagement. These activities are essential to secure construction financing and permitting, all required to obtain the Notice-to-Proceed from the local authorities.
• Low-Income Bonus Tax Credit: GEJC remains committed to dedicating over 50% of clean energy produced to low-income subscribers to address the energy affordability challenges they face. In June 2024, GEJC applied for the IRS’s Low-Income Community Bonus Credit program, securing capacity allocation for three sites under development in October 2024.
• DCEO Grant NOSA: GEJC has been issued a Notice of State Award for a $3 million grant under the Community Solar Energy Sovereignty grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. GEJC is expecting a grant agreement that will unlock the funds. 
• US DOE Grant: In June 2024, GEJC was awarded $200,000 in Phase 2 of the US Department of Energy’s Community Power Accelerator grant and is still in the running for the Phase 3 award of $150,000.
• EPC Selection: GEJC, through its technical development partner, New Energy Equity (NEE) completed an RFP process for selecting an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, awarding two projects to Windfree Solar and one project to Straight Up Solar, with final contracting underway.
• Community Engagement & Subscriber Acquisition: In October 2024, GEJC signed agreements with local community-based organizations to recruit 1,200-1,800 subscribers, primarily low-and moderate-income households, for its projects in Aurora and Romeoville.

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BEZOS EARTH FUND SUPPORTS MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS

Thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund's Greening America’s Cities initiative, we are making great strides to scale our Sustainable Square Mile. Here are a few key milestones we achieved this year:

• Mamie Till-Mobley Forgiveness Garden: This spring, we made significant enhancements to the garden, upgrading its pathways to permeable, brick-paved surfaces. This green infrastructure practice allows rainwater to be absorbed, reducing runoff from rain and snow, while also enhancing the garden's accessibility and beauty.  
• Vacant Lot Purchases: We successfully acquired two vacant lots that were at risk of being developed for market-rate housing. This strategic purchase helps counter the rising pressures of gentrification in the neighborhood, stabilizing property values and maintaining affordability for local residents.
• Electric Vehicle Purchase: We added an all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck, and installed a commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station. This new vehicle supports our garden management efforts by enabling staff to easily transport equipment and materials to all four of our gardens in West Woodlawn.





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CROCUS CLIMATE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP BREAKS GROUND

Recently, BIG and members of the Community Research on Climate and Urban Science. (CROCUS) team installed a weather measurement device on the first of many BIG-owned properties in West Woodlawn. This device was installed on the “Shrine,” formerly the Lincoln Memorial Congregation Church. The Shrine is one of BIG's more recently acquired properties and will act as a resiliency hub, supporting community programs once it's opened.

What will this device measure?

Scientists and communities want to answer questions about how Earth's changing climate will impact life in Chicago and in neighborhoods like West Woodlawn. The device will measure temperature, air quality, wind speed and direction, rainfall, and soil moisture to find out how urban climates work and how they are changing. This research will help the Woodlawn community learn about the risks of flooding, heat stress, and air quality so they can make the best choices to improve their health, homes, and community.

CROCUS Urban Canyon Campaign

This summer, Blacks in Green joined climate scientists from Argonne National Laboratory, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, students, and community leaders for an exciting research event. The group came together to release weather balloons outside of the Comer Education Campus on South Ingleside Avenue to examine the city’s atmospheric conditions during some of Chicago’s hottest days of this summer.

The CROCUS Urban Canyon campaign studied how Chicago’s built environment can influence local weather conditions. These weather balloons measured weather conditions above the ground: temperature, humidity, pressure and wind up to more than 70,000 feet altitude. These measurements help CROCUS understand how Chicago, and its buildings and homes, impact the weather and the climate system. 

CROCUS is led by the DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory in partnership with academic and community organizations, such as Blacks in Green, and civic and industry champions, funded by a Department of Energy $25 million grant. 

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WEST WOODLAWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST & ACQUISITIONS GAIN MOMENTUM

West Woodlawn has historically faced discriminatory housing policies, like redlining, and the neighborhood struggles with vacant land and abandoned properties. At the same time, the area is gentrifying— the cost of housing has increased substantially in West Woodlawn over the past 5-8 years and will continue to rise.  

BIG seeks to combat these issues and has acquired a few lots in the neighborhood. We are also building out a West Woodlawn Community Land Trust with the goal of transforming vacant spaces into areas that benefit the community. The land trust will provide a means to: 

• build out more green spaces on land held in the land trust
• build 70-80 affordable dwellings on land trust property, and 
• keep this housing permanently affordable because it is controlled by the land trust. 

This year, we initiated a resident interest & sign-on list in favor of BIG’s acquisition of empty lots in West Woodlawn as the initial step in this process. If you're interested in learning more, sign up at the link below!

JOIN THE INTEREST LIST

FERTILE GROUND PERFORMANCE CELEBRATES THE GREAT MIGRATION

In August 2024, Deeply Rooted Productions Creative Communities Program, in collaboration with Blacks in Green, presented "Fertile Ground: Celebrating the Great Migration and Green Living in Black Chicago". This was the second annual performance, with the third and final performance to take place in 2025.

Each year, the process includes story circles with community members to cultivate stories, a casting session open to South Side community members, and a rehearsal schedule that slowly brings these Great Migration stories to life. 

A talented community cast and an equally talented production team created and performed this play to an audience of over 200 attendees, to tell the migration stories spanning the Deep South to Chicago's South Side and Stony Island Corridor. This 3-year project was funded by the Together We Heal Creative Place Program. 

MEET THE CREATORS & CAST

ADT DONATION HELPS PURCHASE OF CHURCH FOR FUTURE RESILIENCY CENTER

A $100,000 donation from ADT assisted in the acquisition of the “Shrine,” formerly the Lincoln Memorial Congregation Church on the corner of 65th and Champlain Avenue. The Shrine will act as a resiliency hub, supporting community programs.

ADT’s donation, part of its Safe Places program, also includes a smart security system that will help protect the Till House Museum. 



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CATALYZING CLIMATE ACTION WORKSHOP HELD AT THE GREEN LIVING ROOM

In September 2024, BIG had the honor of hosting Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and staff from the Department of Environment for the Catalyzing Climate Action Workshop. The City of Chicago organized the event in partnership with C40 Cities, The Climate Mayors, and USDN, and convened local and state leaders to explore transformative urban sustainability initiatives that maximize federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to drive climate action.



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