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CLOSUP Lecture Series

The U.S. Energy Transition and Vulnerable Populations

Mar 7, 2018, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
The U.S. is in the midst of an energy transition. This path toward decarbonization of the energy sector promises many societal benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, technological innovation, and reduced air pollution. The costs of this transition such as price spikes or job displacement, however, are not evenly spread across the population, since some individuals and communities are more vulnerable to the adverse impacts than others. In this presentation, I will introduce a framework for conceptualizing vulnerability and then provide an illustration of its potential application using the case of the renewable portfolio standard. I will also present findings from interviews and focus groups with individuals that reside or work within more vulnerable populations. These findings provide insights about the manner in which communities perceive of the energy transition, and how they cope with changes introduced by the transition.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Private Landowners, Public Policy, and the Energy Revolution

Feb 5, 2018, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Betty Ford Classroom 1110
The United States has seen dramatic growth in energy development with much of it occurring on privately owned lands, creating a unique raft of opportunity and risk for landowners. The presentation reviews research on the nexus of property ownership rights and regulatory policy, with a focus on Shale and Wind Energy. It introduces the concept of 'Private Participation' in the planning and siting of energy projects and discusses how private property ownership will continue to influence the energy revolution. 
Ford School

The Disappearing Franchise

Nov 13, 2017, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium (1120)
Vann R. Newkirk, II, Staff Writer at The Atlantic will highlight the ways in which democracy and the ballot have been curtailed historically and in the present for people on the margins of society, including post-Jim Crow and post-Shelby County v. Holder legal developments on gerrymandering and voter ID.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

The Past, Present, and Future of Elections in Michigan, and Beyond

Nov 6, 2017, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Since the November 2016 elections, issues surrounding the nuts-and-bolts of election administration have risen to the forefront of discussion and debate, both here in Michigan and across the nation. This CLOSUP event begins with Debra Horner presenting new survey data collected by the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) exploring views of Michigan's local government leaders on: confidence in the accuracy of Michigan elections; problems experienced in election administration; plans to update voting equipment; and support and opposition to a host of potential election reforms. Then Christopher Thomas will explore a range of related issues, placing Michigan’s experiences in broader national context, while discussing the past, present and future of election issues.  Thomas will address topics such as voter registration policy and the effects of President Trump's voter fraud commission as well as recent Supreme Court decisions regarding the Voting Rights Act, control of ballots, voting equipment failure, and allegations of Russian interference, ending with thoughts on challenges and reforms going forward.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Climate of Capitulation: An Insider’s Account of State Power in a Coal Nation

Nov 1, 2017, 10:00-11:30 am EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom 1110
Vivian Thomson will offer an insider’s account of how power is wielded in environmental policy making at the state level. Drawing on her experience as a former member of Virginia’s State Air Pollution Control Board, she narrates cases in Alexandria, Wise, and Roda that involved coal and air pollution. She identifies a “climate of capitulation” —a deeply rooted favoritism toward coal and electric utilities in state air pollution policies. Thomson links Virginia’s climate of capitulation with campaign finance patterns, a state legislature that depends on outsiders for information and bill drafting, and a political culture that tends toward inertia. She extends her analysis to fifteen other coal states and recommends reforms aimed at mitigating ingrained biases toward coal and electric utility interests.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Carbon Pricing Canada Style: Pricing carbon in a post-Paris, Trump era

Oct 4, 2017, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom 1110
Can a carbon price survive in a highly decentralized, fossil-fuel producing nation that is tightly integrated with the economy of the United States? Against the backdrop of worldwide interest in carbon pricing as a way to meet commitments made in Paris, and in the context of a Trump presidency, this talk examines the history, origins and prospects of carbon pricing in Canada. The talk will focus on recent efforts at developing a national carbon price framework at the federal level, the challenges now facing the current federal government as it moves toward implementation, and the prospects for carbon pricing in the future. Specific attention will be paid to the role of recalcitrant provinces, a divided public, and the influence of political developments in the United States. The talk will also explore key controversies over carbon pricing, and highlight potential lessons from the Canadian experience.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

State Attorneys General and the Trump Administration: Rising Intergovernmental Conflict (and Perhaps Some Cooperation?)

Sep 13, 2017, 4:00-5:30 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom 1110
With Republicans controlling Congress and the White House following the 2016 elections, Democrats have turned to the states to spur challenges to President Trump’s agenda. Among the most prominent of Trump’s state-level adversaries have been state attorneys general, who in just the first few months of 2017 have challenged federal policy from immigration to the environment. While intergovernmental conflict has continued to deepen, AGs have also found areas of bipartisan cooperation as well. This talk will discuss the role of state AGs during the early months of the Trump Administration. In addition to providing an overview of the various tools AGs have used to gain national prominence, Dr. Nolette will highlight several of the emerging trends in AG activity.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Net Gains for Pro-Environmental Behavior: Rebound Effects and Gateway Effects

Jun 12, 2017, 8:30 am-4:15 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
This One-Day Workshop is free and open to the public – but you must register to attend (see below)Space is limited to 50 participants – so register early!Registration/Check-in 8:30am-9:00am Program begins at 9:00am and adjourns at 4:15pmAgenda  http://closup.umich.edu/files/netgains-event-agenda-2017.pdfPresenter bios http://closup.umich.edu/files/netgains-event-bios-2017.pdfIn the environmental realm, people often worry about rebound effects, such that adoption of one pro-environmental behavior will undermine future environmental actions. Others assume that interventions will lead to gateway effects, whereby one pro-environmental behavior leads to others. This workshop will bring together academics, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss behavioral environmental interventions and the complications that arise when multiple behaviors or multiple instances of the same behavior are needed for program success
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Energy and Environmental Policy Research: a student symposium

Apr 26, 2017, 10:30 am-12:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Max and Marjorie Fisher Classroom (1220)
Student panels will discuss the implications of their independent research projects on state and local environmental policy on issues ranging from recycling and food policy to water and energy.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Emerging research on fracking and water policy: A panel discussion

Apr 12, 2017, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
While much attention has been focused on the threats that hydraulic fracturing poses to water systems—whether by its consumptive use of freshwater or the risk of contaminating ground- and surface waters—the financial wealth that oil and gas development brings to state and local governments may provide opportunities to protect water resources. This diverse group of scholars will discuss their research at the intersection of fracking and water policy, and as a panel explore whether there are particular policies or practices that might be scaled-up or replicated outside their geographical area of study to create more sustainable energy-water systems.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Fracking in a Flyover State: The Politics of Oil in the Grassland Prairies

Mar 6, 2017, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Development of the Bakken formation represents a multitude of trade-offs. The region is one of the great granaries of the world, but it is also the site of a recent oil and gas boom made possible by hydraulic fracturing. Overlapping with these natural resources is also a grasslands biome - one of the largest areas of grasslands in Canada and the US, which contains breeding grounds for millions of birds. How local residents understand the landscape is crucial to making fair and adequate policy to protect the ecosystem and the economy. This talk examines how landowners grapple with economic, environmental, and social trade-offs when making decisions about land-use.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

How Green is Your State? Constructing a modern state environmental index

Feb 8, 2017, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
The most recent comprehensive state environmental index is over 25 years old. Hall & Kerr's 1991-1992 Green Index uses 256 indicators to gauge the environmental performance and policies of every state and it is still being used today in lieu of any suitable replacement. American University's Center for Environmental Policy is creating a new state environmental index to assess the ecological efficiency of each state. Come hear American University's Riordan Frost discuss the preliminary results of this index, and learn more about the challenges and hard decisions inherent in constructing an index.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

The Economics of Place

Nov 30, 2016, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Join Daniel Gilmartin, Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League for an engaging presentation and discussion around why placemaking is so important as an economic development strategy for communities.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series, EPI Speaker Series

Opportunity in Michigan: Lessons from leading education states

Nov 9, 2016, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Free and open to the public.Pizza lunch provided at 11:25am to the first 100 guests.Sponsored by: The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP)Co-sponsored by: The Education Policy Initiative (EPI) and the University of Michigan School of EducationFor more information visit www.closup.umich.edu or call 734-647-4091.  Follow on Twitter @closup
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Energy, climate change, and the 2016 elections

Nov 2, 2016, 4:00-5:30 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium (1120)
The 2016 general election will have enormous implications for energy and climate policy in the United States. While much attention will be paid to the positions of presidential candidates, congressional and state elections will also have major implications for how federal and state governments address a variety of crucial issues such as implementing greenhouse gas reduction policies, regulating fracking, crafting subsidies for renewable energy, and much more. Experts with a variety of perspectives will discuss which elections they’re most closely watching, and what different results might mean for energy and climate policy in Michigan, Washington, and beyond.    
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Detroit's fiscal issues - now, and into the future

Oct 31, 2016, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Carol O'Cleireacain became Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy, Planning & Strategy in October 2014. She is a nationally recognized expert on fiscally troubled states and local governments.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Reclaiming the atmospheric commons: a new strategy for climate policy success?

Oct 3, 2016, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
This talk explores a surprising new strategy for climate change policy that has emerged in the last 10 years: “reclaiming the atmospheric commons.”  The strategy combines the idea of making polluters pay for their greenhouse gas emissions with the additional idea of using those revenues to generate tangible, broadly distributed public benefits. 
Ford School
Policy Talks @ the Ford School, Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation Lecture Series

21st Century Public Leadership: Lessons from the Rustbelt

Sep 30, 2016, 12:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium
Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz (AB '84) returns to the University of Michigan to chair a panel of public servants from rebounding Midwestern cities: Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; and Youngstown, Ohio. Each provides an example of the Obama Administration's "place-based" approach in action.
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Marijuana Policy in the U.S.: From the War on Drugs to Rapid Reform

Sep 26, 2016, 4:00-5:30 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
In a new book, Marijuana: A Short History, the Brookings Institution’s John Hudak profiles how policy has evolved; how factors like economics, racism, politics, and public opinion have shaped policy, and what the future of marijuana policy may hold.
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Ann Arbor City Council Candidates Debate

Apr 13, 2016, 1:00-2:30 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium (1120)
Students of PUBPOL 456/756 invite the public to join them for a debate featuring city council candidates from the following wards

Community Conversation - restoring public trust in state government

Mar 30, 2016, 4:00-5:30 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium (1120)
Join us for a Community Conversation about Restoring Public Trust in Michigan's State Government. Topics will include state government services, management of the public purse, and oversight of Michigan's political system.  We invite you to share thoughts, insights, and ideas! 
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Michigan’s Municipal Water Infrastructure: Policy Choices and Issues Conference

Mar 22, 2016, 8:30 am-12:00 pm EDT
Lansing Convention Center
The “Michigan’s Municipal Water Infrastructure: Policy Choices and Issues” conference is being sponsored by a consortium of universities across the state, with the hope of bringing a voice of academic research and analysis to the topic of municipal water policy in the state (particularly relevant in the face of the crisis in Flint). Faculty will present on a range of issues: from water supply engineering issues to municipal funding needs to health and environmental impacts to state and federal regulation.For more information and to register, please visit http://events.anr.msu.edu/MMWI/  This conference is free, however space is limited so please register early to secure your spot.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Philanthropic Foundations and the Grand Bargain in Detroit

Mar 17, 2016, 10:00-11:30 am EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Mariam Noland has been widely recognized as the "hero of the Grand Bargain," the landmark effort to save Detroit from bankruptcy. She was a central figure in organizing a collaborative of foundations to donate $816 million to bail out Detroit's pension system and protect the Detroit Art Institute's art from being sold, and will help oversee the Foundation for Detroit's Future, which was established to oversee Grand Bargain funds, for the next 20 years. Ms. Noland will engage in conversation with Megan Tompkins-Stange, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, about her experience as a foundation professional, her views about the role of philanthropy in providing for public needs, and how community foundations act as agents of social change. 
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Child care policy and advocacy in federal states: Ontario and Michigan in comparison

Mar 14, 2016, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, David G. and Judith C. Frey Classroom (1210)
Universal child care has been a longstanding goal of child care advocates in both Canada and the United States since the 1960s, yet in 2016 that goal remains stubbornly elusive in both federations despite decades of activism. Responsibility for child care delivery has been shared in both countries between federal, “meso” (provincial/state), and local governments with more of that responsibility being downloaded to the state/provincial level since the 1990s. Dr. Collier will present two meso level cases (Ontario and Michigan) to understand how child care advocates have navigated these decentralized landscapes. What factors explain successful policy outcomes and what barriers persist? Are universal programs and longer term social justice advocacy claims viable in decentralized federations?  View the poster.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

What the best-dressed ideas wear to Lansing’s policy Oscars: If the State of the State is Lansing’s policy Oscars, where does an idea go to rent a tux?

Jan 25, 2016, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
On January 19th, Governor Snyder delivers his 6th State of the State address. And, for lawmakers, lobbyists, and interest groups, the annual speech is the opportunity to create a red carpet moment for their policy goals. So, what does it take to get there? It's Just Politics co-hosts Zoe Clark (of Michigan Radio) and Rick Pluta (of the Michigan Public Radio Network) will talk about the marketing, the relationship-building, the polling, and the background research that’s needed to push some issues past the competing interests to get that rare, valuable mention as the governor sets his agenda for the year.

Cheap and Clean: How Americans Think About Energy in the Age of Global Warming

Nov 23, 2015, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium
How do Americans think about energy? Is the debate over fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable energy highly partisan and ideological? Are people’s preferences for different energy sources idiosyncratic, or is there a common pattern that explains how people view energy across sources? How much does concern about climate change weigh on these opinions? 
Ford School
Policy Talks @ the Ford School

A conversation with former Republican Congressmen Mike Rogers and David Camp

Nov 10, 2015, 4:00-5:30 pm EST
Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium
The Ford School hosts a conversation with former U.S. Congressmen for the State of Michigan, Dave Camp and Mike Rogers, moderated by their former colleague in the House of Representatives, Professor Joe Schwarz.
Ford School