Guests Matt Weaver and Marie Donahue.

At Solutionary Rail, we understand the intimate link between fighting polluting diesel and truck transportation, and simultaneously creating what's needed in our communities.

This transition might include the Solutionary Rail approach to harnessing clean distributed energy for electric trains for passengers and freight in impacted neighborhoods across the country, and crafting just, sustainable, green local economy opportunities such as community solar, composting, community gardens, zero waste, and locally owned, family supporting careers and independent businesses.

Knitting together the mandate for local self reliance with clean energy innovation, we interviewed two guests on June 27, 2018

Marie Donahue is a research associate at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance with its Energy Democracy and Community-Scaled Economy Initiatives. In this role, Marie supports communities investing in distributed energy systems and locally owned businesses. In particular, she analyzes and writes about the implications of corporate concentration and monopoly in our energy and economic systems. An interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in environmental policy and sustainability topics, Marie brings a passion for the environment, social justice, and public policy to her work. Marie has also worked with a variety of other organizations across the Midwest, including the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, US EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Climate Generation, Metropolitan Planning Council, and Center for Neighborhood Technology.

Matt Weaver has over a decade experience in renewable energy, including hydrogen and solar, and grassroots organizing around social justice and sustainability.  As Solar Strategies Director of Baltimore-based Civic Works, he is currently working on a Community Solar program in Maryland, making renewable energy in Baltimore more accessible to residents in all types of housing, including rental units.

After the interview, there will be a Solutionary Rail update by Bill and the Tech Team, and we'll have time for your questions and comments.

Join the call on Wednesday by RSVP'ing here.