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Interested in covering or reviewing How To Power A City? Please reach out to our team at MLR@powercityfilm.com. For the full press kit with poster, trailers, and other press coverage: EPK - How To Power A City
media statement
Contact:
Melanie La Rosa, Producer/Director
917-488-2617
NEW DOCUMENTARY, “HOW TO POWER A CITY,” TO HAVE U.S. THEATRICAL PREMIERE AT QUEENS WORLD FILM FESTIVAL, APRIL 27
Film showcases grassroots clean energy efforts in cities across the nation
New York, New York, (April 15, 2024) – As discussions, arguments, and crises around sustainable energy sources grow, a new documentary, “How to Power a City,” is taking a deep look at how cities and individuals across the U.S. are taking matters into their own hands, overcoming obstacles, and creating change for the present – and the future.
In partnership with the Queens World Film Festival, the film’s U.S. theatrical premiere is at the Museum of the Moving Image on April 27 at 3 pm. The film will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide starting Fall 2024, and also available for educational and community screenings.
Less doomsday and more practical inspiration, the film was conceived when filmmaker Melanie La Rosa walked by a table on a Brooklyn sidewalk and was asked if she wanted to switch to wind power. That day, something clicked for her. La Rosa wanted to know more about how wind power, solar panels, and other clean energy works. This began her journey to learn as much as she could, growing to include solar, many other cities, other types of clean energy, and ultimately became this feature documentary.
What started out as a basic look at how clean energy technology works became a deeper dive into our nation’s energy systems and the people leading all aspects of the clean energy revolution. The result: “How to Power a City,” a solutions-based climate documentary detailing the development of the clean energy revolution across the United States.
In six locations, a diverse cast of characters addresses a variety of obstacles in unique ways, motivated by community, progress, innovation, and justice. These stories from the front lines of the clean energy revolution range from small emergency-sized solar power systems, to utilities and cities embracing renewable energy, innovative policies using renewables to transform existing systems, and environmental justice communities fighting to keep the lights on.
“How To Power A City” is a behind-the-scenes exploration of leadership, innovation, technology, public participation, and what energy transformation looks like in everyday situations. Set in varied locations from the urban sprawls of New York City, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Detroit/Highland Park, to towns in mountainous Vermont and communities throughout Puerto Rico.
FILM SYNOPSIS:
Climate impact is worsening every year. Devastating storms, air pollution, sacrifice zones, and fossil fuel price hikes are the new normal. We know the problems of a fossil fuel economy — HOW TO POWER A CITY is a front-row seat to people finding solutions. A diverse cast in six locations each leads a unique solar or wind power project. They also find ways to use renewable energy to innovate, activate, and create community. This is a journey through the world of renewable energy: creating electricity without pollution, solar for surviving hurricanes, local climate action, and finding measures of environmental justice. It has themes of science, innovation, leadership, environmental stewardship, and love of one’s community.
BY EACH LOCATION:
NEW YORK
When residents of Astoria, Queens shut down a coal-burning power plant that has been polluting their air for decades, then-City Councilmember Costa Constantinides continues this community-wide fight all the way through to passing bill to get rid of fossil fuel power plants completely and to turn Rikers Island into a solar farm when the jail closes. This story ends in the passage of “Renewable Rikers” — city legislation that will turn Rikers Island into a renewable energy hub when the jail closes. CUNY Law Professor Rebecca Bratspies shares the toxic history of Rikers Island, and how Renewable Rikers will be restorative to communities heavily impacted by air pollution in Queens and the Bronx and by the criminal justice system currently housed on Rikers Island.
HIGHLAND PARK / METRO DETROIT
When the utility repossesses over 1,000 streetlights in Highland Park, MI, residents create solar-power streetlights, energy democracy trainings, and a local movement that ultimately influences state energy policy.
VERMONT
How are utilities part of the solution? A CEO leads Vermont’s largest utility, Green Mountain Power, to become renowned nationally for their use of solar and wind power, innovations with batteries, distributed generation, and passing on the benefits to customers.
PUERTO RICO
Two stories in Puerto Rico follow energy transformation that began in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and continues on to some of the world’s most ambitious clean energy goals. In Salinas, a lawyer works with a community group to bring affordable, life-saving solar power systems to her hometown. In Isabela, a family installs hundreds of rooftop solar systems, then launches a solar training program focused on creating a path for island residents, including women, to be certified solar installers.
LAS VEGAS
Always going big, Las Vegas becomes the first large city in the United States to be 100% renewable energy for its city services.
ATLANTIC CITY
In New Jersey, a 100% renewable energy-fueled industrial site inspires a group of fishermen to try to build the first offshore wind farm in the United States. As locales across the mid-Atlantic explore their own offshore wind projects, this story line shows the challenges of enacting these projects.
The stories in the film are inspiring previewers to learn more about what they can do in their own cities. As one viewer shared: “I was impressed by how the people in the documentary never considered quitting their goal of using renewables for their unique communities.”
QUOTES:
For La Rosa, the film is about showcasing how change can happen when people are inspired to take action.
“Changemakers don’t have to just be the experts, government offices, or well-funded groups,” she explains. “Changemakers can, in fact, be everyday people who are concerned for our future and who become committed to impacting their unique corner of the world.”
CUNY Law Professor Rebecca Bratspies, who leads the Center for Urban Environmental Reform, shared:
“Renewable Rikers creates the possibility of transformative environmental justice for the city’s overburdened, overpoliced communities of color. By pairing criminal justice reform with green infrastructure, Renewable Rikers shows us a new path forward, one that centers justice, and prioritizes the most vulnerable. In March 2024, New York City completed two studies demonstrating the feasibility of siting wastewater treatment and significant green energy infrastructure on the island. Both conclude that Renewable Rikers makes sense economically, and we already know it makes sense environmentally and socially. Truly a Win-Win-Win for New York.
How To Power a City is an inspiring film that shows the links between social justice, environmental justice, and energy justice. It was an honor to participate.”
AWARDS:
- Best Director, Documentary Feature — the Queens World Film Festival, New York City (Nominee)
- Best Feature Documentary — the Arctic Film Festival, Svalbard, Norway (Nominee)
- Best Short Puerto Rico Documentary — Rincón International Film Festival (Winner, for excerpted short film)
To learn more about the film or to schedule a private screening visit: www.powercityfilm.com.
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How To Power A City is an independent film relying on grants and donations from like-minded supporters.
The film, and director Melanie La Rosa are available for Director Q &A, hosted sneak previews, screenings for events, festivals, or conferences.
For more information, please visit: www.powercityfilm.com.