Chicago Politics

Earth Day Library Solar Unveiling 4.22.26

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Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson will attend the Earth Day Library Solar Unveiling event.

Transcript

0:00 And as you know, libraries help power our neighborhoods through books and learning and opportunity, and today this library is also helping to power itself. As of today, the solar installation here is live and generating clean energy that will cover nearly half of this building's electrical use, 43% of its consumption. And during National Library Week, as we talk about the power that runs this building i also want to recognize the people who power our libraries every

0:32 day our staff across the city especially here at the toman branch and want to thank acting manager teresa espinoza for and the outstanding team here for all that they do in little village let's give them a round of applause our chicago public library operates 81 neighborhood locations nearly 1.9 million square feet of public space and to serve our public well we have to be smart about how we manage these spaces a major part of that like any operation is the cost of energy

1:08 where it comes from the power that lights our buildings heats and cools our rooms runs our broadband and keeps our libraries open welcome and working every day so when we upgrade this building with efficient solar technology. We're doing more than just improving a roof. We lower long-term costs and use taxpayer dollars more wisely. It's about stronger public assets and lower costs. And I'm proud of the progress that the Tomin branch is helping to contribute. Mayor, thank you for your leadership

1:41 and for being here. I also want to thank Angela Tovar, our Chicago Chief Sustainability Officer, Commissioner Julie Hernandez Tomlin and our partners at the Department of Fleet and Facility. Thank you for making our libraries smarter and more efficient and now it's my privilege to welcome Mayor who understands that investing in neighborhoods is investing in the future of Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson. Thank you Commissioner Brown and good afternoon everyone.

2:12 And again happy Earth Day. I do want to thank all of you for joining us today. Thank you to the alder of this ward Mike Rodriguez, again Commissioner Brown, our Chief Sustainability Officer and Department of Environment, Commissioner Angela Tovar, the Department of Fleet and Facility Management, Commissioner Julia Hernandez-Tomlin, and then, of course, Melanie Minuche from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. It is so great to join you all today to celebrate Earth Day

2:43 and the latest milestone in our efforts to bring renewable energy solutions to our communities across Chicago. The installation of the new rooftop solar panels and full energy retrofits here at the Tomin Library branch is my commitment and a remarkable testament to all of the advocacy that has been working tirelessly to ensure that the city of Chicago is leading the way as it relates to sustainability. And today, Toman becomes the third library branch with rooftop solar panels, bringing clean energy to Little Village.

3:19 And so far, we have completed projects at the South Chicago and Humble Park branches, and later this year, another library solar project will be completed at the West Lawn branch. And last year, we celebrated the milestone of transitioning all municipal facilities to 100 percent renewable energy, with most of that energy coming from the Illinois Solar Farm. Library Solar is another important way that we are moving forward on our Chi 100, our initiative to make all energy consumed in the city 100 percent renewable

3:52 and bring clean energy for generations to come for all of our neighborhoods. And here at the Tolman Branch, the new solar panels will help to offset and projected 43 percent of this building's total electricity consumption. At South Chicago and Humboldt Park, those numbers are even higher, at 57 percent and 91 percent, respectfully. These changes will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our neighborhoods while also reducing our energy use and operating costs.

4:23 And those benefits are just the beginning. By transforming these neighborhood libraries, we are making these crucial gathering spaces and learning hubs work better for our communities. Residents of the Little Village, South Chicago, and Humboldt Park neighborhoods and the hardworking library staff can enjoy increased comfort in the building thanks to the energy efficiency and the HVAC upgrades. In these vital learning hubs, residents can now experience firsthand the benefits of clean energy. And by giving people access to the benefits of clean energy, we are fulfilling our commitment to equity in all of our climate efforts.

5:02 Our steadfast commitment to equity has become more important than ever. As the federal government continues to callously roll back environmental regulations, we are seeing disproportionate harm in black and brown communities across the country. And this Earth Day, I want to let the federal government know that we will not back down and we will not stop fighting to protect all of Chicago. With our reinstated Department of Environment, we continue to push forward initiatives that make energy cleaner and more affordable, that safeguard our communities of color from industrial pollution

5:35 and that ultimately make our neighborhoods more resilient. And through the Climate Infrastructure Fund, DPD and DOE are helping small businesses and nonprofits make their buildings more energy efficient and install solar panels on their own rooftops. It also helps them purchase electric vehicles and infrastructure to eliminate fuel costs and operate more effectively and implement green infrastructure to reduce flooding. And through Green Homes Chicago, we are helping make low-income Chicagoans' homes safer

6:08 and more energy efficient, which ultimately helps to reduce their utility bills. And with the Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impact Ordinance, we are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what zip code they live in, can breathe clean and healthy air. So finally, I want to thank our teams from the Department of Environment, Department of Fleet and Facility Management, and, of course, our Chicago Public Library for their collaboration to continue to ensure that the work that we are doing today becomes reality for the entire city of Chicago. So this Earth Day and every day, let us continue to work together

6:40 to make Chicago a greener and healthier place for all. Thank you. And with that, please welcome our Chief Sustainability Officer and Commissioner, Angela Tovar. Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. And happy Earth Day. It's so special to be here with you all at the Tomin Branch Library right here in La Vieta.

7:12 I want to start by thanking my colleague, Commissioner Brown, and his team for your incredible partnership in making our library solar possible. I also want to thank our project team, including city staff from Fleet and Facilities Management and the Department of Environment. And in particular, I want to just acknowledge two people who have made this project possible, our Assistant Commissioner, Lindy Wordlaw, and our Energy Manager, David Powell. So thank you for your leadership in this effort. I also want to acknowledge our Contractors Train for helping bring our vision for library solar to life.

7:48 And, of course, thank you to our 22nd Ward Alderman, Mike Rodriguez, for your steady leadership and your advocacy on many environmental issues. Our wonderful partner, Elvejo, is here. Elvejo, thank you for your efforts to demand accountability and environmental justice. That has helped transform the city's policy and action on these important issues. And, of course, I'd like to thank Mayor Johnson for his continued leadership on such a robust environmental agenda. Thank you so much, sir.

8:18 When we talk about climate change and clean energy, it sometimes feels distant and like something that's happening somewhere else. But this is the opposite of that, right? This is about making these solutions real, about making them local and a part of everyday life. Because this library just isn't a building. It's where kids come after school. It's where people come to look for resources, connection, and opportunity. And that's exactly why we've chosen libraries for these investments, because they are trusted, welcoming spaces at the heart of our communities.

8:51 As the mayor mentioned, this project marks our third library solar installation in Chicago, building on the work that we completed last year at South Chicago and Humboldt Park branches, and we're not done. We have one more library solar project underway at the West Lawn Branch. But what's happening here goes beyond solar panels on the roof. I know the mayor already talked about some of the technical elements, including full energy retrofits that include lighting and HVAC upgrades. These are all designed to make this building more comfortable

9:22 for the La Villita residents who use it every day. And at the same time, it's better for the environment. You know, the mayor mentioned a couple of different numbers in terms of the emissions reduction that we'll see from these libraries. But what this means is that it will be better for the neighborhoods, it's lower operating costs for the city, and a healthier space for everyone who walks through these doors. Last year, we made this major shift, transitioning all 400-plus of our buildings to renewable energy.

9:54 And now with projects like this, we're taking the next step by bringing that clean energy right back to our neighborhoods, right where it matters. because communities like Little Village have carried more than their fair share of environmental challenges for a very long time. So as we build the clean energy future, we have to do it in a way that's fair, making sure the benefits of that transition show up in places that have waited the longest. That's what today represents. It's not just about infrastructure. It's about people.

10:25 It's about making sure every neighborhood can see and feel the benefits of clean energy in their daily lives. So to everyone who's helped make this happen, our partners, our city departments, the library staff, thank you so much. The community, every solar installer, every electrician that was a part of this project, our aldermen, our partners at the library, our mayor, thank you. And to the residents of La Villita, thank you for continuing to show us what community leadership looks like.

10:55 Happy Earth Day, everyone. And with that, I'll welcome our 22nd Ward Alderman, Mike Rodriguez. Thank you. hmm, it's a really good day. It's Earth Day. It's a sunny 70-degree day outside. And we're inside of a wonderful institution, an institution that serves the great residents of the 22nd Ward and Little Village.

11:27 You know, I went to grammar school a block away from here. This was my library. And growing up, our library wasn't open on weekends or on nights, in the night, right? We had very limited resources for the young people here in our community. 26th Street and Little Village are the capital of the Mexican Midwest. We generate tax revenues for the city of Chicago that are significant. Some say the second highest in the city.

11:58 The fact is, is that our residents deserve investment. And today, I'm so proud to say, as a kid from this neighborhood, now a leader in this community, that today we have a great investment here at this space that's so very important to our families. We have solar panels on our roof that would drive down energy usage at 43%. That's magnificent. That's an investment not only in the infrastructure of this building, but in the very infrastructure and fabric of our community.

12:35 Children walking down the street can hold their head up high today and say, I'm valued. I'm worth it. I was just invested in. And I'm so very proud of that investment. I'm so very proud to be one of the leaders of this great community. brevemente en español ni sé que si hay en español pero le voy a decir unas palabras en español hoy, día de la tierra día de la madre tierra celebramos una inversión aquí en nuestra comunidad en la biblioteca Tolman

13:06 aquí en la calle 27 y la Pulaski donde yo crecí yo fui a la primaria a una cuadra de aquí y llegaba aquí a esta biblioteca los fines de semana, noches ningún servicio aquí las puertas no estaban abiertas Pero nuestra comunidad, tanto que genera inversión en nuestra ciudad de los impuestos, merece también inversión a nosotros. Y hoy día celebramos una inversión integral. Este día de Madre Tierra, estamos bien felices de que tenemos una biblioteca con paneles solares.

13:44 este se va a generar una Energía, más que nada, limpia y más saludable para toda nuestra comunidad. So with great pleasure, I'd like to bring up from the Little Village Community, forgive me, from Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Melanie Minuche. Melanie? Good afternoon, all. Good afternoon. And happy Earth Day and month.

14:16 My name is Melanie Minuche. I'm a Senior Policy Analyst at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, and I'm excited to share a few words on behalf of our organization, and thank you to the Department of Environment for the invitation. El Bejo is a community-based environmental justice organization rooted in the Little Village neighborhood. For more than 30 years, we've worked alongside residents to address environmental, public health, air pollution issues, and to advocate for clean energy solutions and investments that our communities deserve.

14:49 We are excited about the completion of the Tomin Solar Project, which will reduce energy consumption and improve quality of life in the neighborhood. Projects like these bring the city closer towards advancing building decarbonization in neighborhoods like Little Village that have been at the center of environmental racism for decades. Community institutions like Tomin Library play a crucial role in the ecosystem of resources in the neighborhood from acting as a cooling center in the summertime to a place where people can convene, learn, and talk about local issues and share resources with one another. One of the

15:24 first community meetings, actually, that I helped organize at El Bejo was here at Tomen. We talked specifically about how diesel pollution impacts the health and overall quality of life of people and families in our communities. It feels like a full circle moment to be back here talking about the importance of these types of projects and what they have in creating healthier spaces for our communities to convene. Building decarbonization in environmental justice communities isn't only about meeting environmental metrics and goals, but ensuring that community members have access to healthy

15:58 buildings that are powered efficiently and can in the future serve as powerhouses during electricity blackouts, which are only going to become more severe and common as the climate crisis worsens. El Bejo hopes to continue working alongside the city in creating more energy-efficient initiatives and welcoming them that prioritize and center the health and safety and well-being of our community members. If you'd like to stay connected to the work that we do at El Bejo here in Little Village and beyond, please follow us on social media, and we also invite you to join us at our air pollution community meeting

16:34 happening next week on the 29th at Casa de Cultura as a way to honor the closing of Earth Month. Thank you all so much for your time. I think that's it. I think we're wrapped, and now we're going to take a few photos.

17:38 Amen.

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