How one of the nation’s first microgrids powers IIT

Historic Bronzeville sets sights on green tech innovation to spur economic development — The Energy Department on Wednesday awarded nearly $74 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law for 10 projects to advance recycling and reuse of batteries for electric vehicles and other purposes. The funding will go to academic and commercial applicants in seven states, including four in California. Other grant winners are in Nevada, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee, Indiana and Alabama. The announcement supports President Joe Biden’s goal for electric vehicles to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

How one of the nation’s first microgrids powers IIT in Bronzeville

If your neighborhood has historic disinvestment and few grocery stores and you don’t have a car, you might have to take two buses to pick up groceries. A new initiative in Bronzeville is hoping to bridge this gap with a ridesharing app that will be powered by electric vehicles, bringing green technology to the neighborhood and addressing entrenched problems. Reset learns about this initiative and how intentional workforce development is essential in making sure South Side residents benefit from the transition to a green economy. GUESTS: Paula Robinson, managing member, Bronzeville Partners LLC Billy Davis, general manager, Jitney EV Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility, GUEST: Paula Robinson, managing member, Bronzeville Partners LLC

The Energy Department on Wednesday awarded nearly $74 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law for 10 projects to advance recycling and reuse of batteries for electric vehicles and other purposes. The funding will go to academic and commercial applicants in seven states, including four in California. Other grant winners are in Nevada, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee, Indiana and Alabama. The announcement supports President Joe Biden’s goal for electric vehicles to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030.

Haven Daley/AP

By Brenda Ruiz

IIT’s grid is a self-sufficient energy system that can disconnect from the larger power grid in case of emergency, such as severe weather or a cyber attack.

Reset explores how the school’s microgrid works and what the environmental and other benefits are for the school and surrounding community.

GUESTS: Mohammad Shahidehpour, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Illinois Tech, director of the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation

Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility