How much does the energy code matter in my town? And why is it important? This report provides an overview of the Kansas City region’s various building code policies and discusses how the efficiency of our homes and buildings impacts human health, well-being, and the economy. And with the unprecedented quantity of federal funds through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), along with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, aka the BIL), there is no better time to invest in energy efficiency and update our energy codes to create a strong growth in clean energy jobs and healthy and more equitable communities

Hospital staff witnessed positive health outcomes with many of their young asthma patients whose families had enrolled in a “healthy homes” program and received healthy home information, resources and repairs. For nearly a decade, MEC administered weatherization and energy efficiency renovations that keep indoor air in and outdoor air out. This study brings data from the two entities together to compare health outcomes for patients whose homes had weatherization performed and those whose did not.

This report explores the collaborative effort led by Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) and its partners to install streetlight-based electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Kansas City, Missouri. Authored by Alexis Blomqvist from EVNoire with contributions from Dr. Shelley Francis and Kelly Gilbert, the report emphasizes community engagement to ensure equitable access to EV charging infrastructure. Key sections include the project’s background, community engagement strategies, participant feedback, site selection criteria, and the socioeconomic context of the targeted neighborhoods. The findings highlight the importance of placing chargers in community-centric spaces, addressing safety concerns, and leveraging EV chargers as economic opportunities for local businesses. Recommendations stress the need for inclusive planning to avoid reinforcing socioeconomic disparities and suggest strategic outreach and educational efforts to promote EV adoption in underserved communities.

Authored by a collaboration between Metropolitan Energy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Pennsylvania State University, this report presents the strategies and challenges of deploying streetlight-based EV charging infrastructure in Kansas City, Missouri. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the project aims to provide equitable, low-cost EV charging access, particularly benefiting residents without private charging options. Key sections of the report include technology and site selection, community engagement, deployment outcomes, and lessons learned. The report details the installation of 23 EV charging stations, guided by a data-driven site selection model and community input, with a focus on enhancing infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods. The findings and recommendations aim to inform future citywide and national efforts in expanding EV charging infrastructure.

University of Kansas white paper explores feasibility of converting compressed natural gas fueling to hydrogen fueling stations.

This report outlines the outcomes of listening sessions regarding how MEC and other funders can better connect and work with community based organizations. Our work under the U.S. Dept of Energy Clean Cities framework continues to evolve in ways such that we can better serve communities that are traditionally left out of project design and outcomes decision-making.

This report goes over listening sessions that were held in 2020 that were for farmers to assess the needs of distributing specialty crops. The listening sessions incorporated farmers across both Kansas and Missouri.

This study collected information on alternative fuel stations in 2015. It includes recommendations for number of stations, locations, and types along identified corridors in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa.

This report from 2014 provides perspective on the challenges and barriers fleet-decision makers face when considering alternative fuel adoption. The assessment includes decision makers within EPA Region 7.