It's a new year, but so much happened at the end of 2024 that deserves its own spotlight moment! CAN's sustainability project gained some serious momentum, getting media attention from local and national news outlets, and getting a major funding boost. Check out this special edition newsletter to get caught up on all things sustainability at CAN!

The Rise of Carbon-Neutral Neighborhoods

This article, which is part of the TimeCO2 Series, tells a solutions-driven story about how different industries can remake the world in a sustainable way. CAN is featured in this article about the rise of carbon-neutral communities -including how making investments in people's homes and neighborhoods sets precedents that can work together to change how people think about sustainability and reshape the world we live in. 

In case you aren't familiar with our sustainability work, read this recent article by Concentrate to learn more about how it is transforming the Bryant neighborhood!

"That last piece of the decarbonization puzzle is potentially the most difficult. Geothermal systems require a lot of digging, which is laborious and disruptive, Miller says.

The organization’s original goal was to fully decarbonize the neighborhood by 2030. That’s still doable thanks to the progress CAN has made, Steward says."

Now that you've gotten some context, we are thrilled to share that the finish line is in sight! Just before the holiday break, it was announced that The City of Ann Arbor, in partnership with CAN and others, received a $10 million federal grant from the Department of Energy to create a regional geothermal district that includes Bryant. This, stacked with the recent award from the Michigan Public Service Commission, was the last major piece of the puzzle to make neighborhood decarbonization a reality in Bryant. Geothermal decarbonizes heating and cooling in homes; creating a district makes the system more affordable and manageable.

Read this MLive article to see what's next!

"Previous rounds of funding have gone toward energy-saving and health, safety and comfort improvements in lower‐income homes, while planning for the eventual big undertaking of a neighborhood-scale geothermal project that will allow residents and others to ditch their gas furnaces and air conditioners."

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Community Action Network partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw County neighborhoods to create better futures for themselves and improve the communities in which they live.

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