Celebrating Our TN Member Communities

Four photos of various Tennessee cities with Celebrating Tennessee in the middle

From microgrids to municipal fleet transitions, check out what our member communities in Tennessee are doing:   Knoxville is driving change with a Green Fleet Policy, a decarbonization plan for public transit, and a partnership with Knoxville Utilities Board’s community solar array program. It’s aiming for a 50% cut in municipal emissions by 2030 and…

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Green Minds Podcast: Climate Action Plans

Square Green Minds podcast logo with head with leaf inside and squiggly line behind

Does your community have a Climate Action Plan, Climate Vulnerability or Risk Assessment? Are you interested in one? Take a deep dive with us as we explore what makes a successful plan on our Green Minds podcast, which just dropped today. Host Dr. Robyn Byers interviews Leif Olson of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Michelle Midanier of…

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West Palm Beach Energy Milestone

Two women and two men pose for a photo with their award

We’re celebrating a big win for the SSDN member community West Palm Beach, which has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a 2024 Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achiever!  By reducing energy use by 16% across all municipal buildings and infrastructure, the City cemented its status as a leader in municipal energy efficiency…

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What’s in Your Energy/Water Efficiency Kit?

green cloth bag surrounded by several items for an energy efficiency kit

LED lightbulbs? Low-flow showerheads? Our sustainability experts recently discussed what items they provide to homeowners and renters as part of their community sustainability efforts as well as which items had an impact and what items just weren’t effective. These kits help community members try out items they might not otherwise purchase so they can see…

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What’s the Buzz about Bee Cities?

Bumble bee on a pink flower

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are essential to healthy ecosystems, local agriculture, and biodiversity—but they’re in trouble. That’s where Bee City USA steps in, helping communities take meaningful steps to protect these vital species. Becoming a Bee City means your community commits to: ✅ Creating and enhancing pollinator habitats ✅ Educating the public about…

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Congrats to Our Very Own Energy Exec: Jake!

man smiling with trees in the background

We’re proud to share that SSDN’s Jake Leech has been selected to join the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2025 Executive Energy Leadership  program (Energy Execs)! This prestigious four-month leadership program brings together 19 professionals from across the country to dive deep into cutting-edge clean energy technologies, tools, and innovations. Jake’s…

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Built Shade: A Critical Tool in Heat Resilience

Built shade trolley stop in Tampa

When it comes to beating the heat, trees are a great solution, but they aren’t the only solution — and in places like East Tampa, built shade is playing a vital role in protecting communities. As highlighted by Kayla Caselli with the City of Tampa and featured in the Tampa Heat Resilience Playbook, built shade…

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Congrats to Our New Membership Manager: Gabi

Dark haired woman leaning against a wall

Since joining SSDN, Gabriela “Gabi” Sanchez Barrocas has been a vital part of our team — bringing dedication, heart, and a deep commitment to supporting our members. She began taking on many of the responsibilities of this role in the fall of last year and was officially promoted in March. Her biggest undertaking so far…

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New SSDN Jobs Board

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We’re excited to launch the SSDN Jobs Board—a growing hub for local government sustainability and resilience career opportunities across the Southeast! Looking for your next step or know someone who is looking?  To post a job, simply fill out the quick submission form here: 🔗 https://www.southeastsdn.org/members/member-login/job-postings/ You can also send jobs to Amanda@southeastsdn.org.  We’re building…

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Inspiration to Anticipation: SSDN’s 2025 Annual Meeting

large group of people with SSDN banner

“Feeling gratitude for SSDN bringing together such a thoughtful and driven community committed to local climate action and collective impact.”- Alannah Irwin, Boynton Beach, FL Dear SSDN Community, As the energy from our recent gathering in Richmond begins to settle, we find ourselves reflecting on connections made, inspiration found, and knowledge gained and shared. For…

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