Affordability Goes
Beyond The Rent
Policy Driven Solutions for Housing and Utility Burdens
Beyond The Rent is the conference for Louisville’s Housing Affordability initiative. We’re here to discuss access, policy, and practical means of support.
The True Cost of Louisville's Housing Affordability
This conference will bring together national and local speakers, policymakers, nonprofit organizations, advocates, and community members to strengthen dialogue and collaboration on housing and utility affordability. We will also share key findings from our 2025 Housing and Utility Affordability Report to ensure that data and lived experience guide future policies and solutions.
9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
ALL-DAY Tickets
$100
Includes breakfast and lunch and dinner, and a special cocktail hour, all keynote speeches, and all breakout sessions.
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Morning Tickets
$70
Includes breakfast and lunch, two keynote speeches, and a breakout session with the choice to learn about either renewable energy or water affordability
12:00 PM – 7:30 PM
EVENING Tickets
$70
Includes lunch and dinner, a cocktail hour with a cash bar, two keynote speeches, a breakout session with the choice to learn about either electric disconnections or water equity, and a panel discussion of research experts
Brionté McCorkle
Executive Director
Georgia Conservation Voters
Kent Chandler
Resident Senior Fellow
R Street Institute
Dr. Will Bryan
Director of Research
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Andy McDonald
Director
Apogee-Climate & Energy Transitions
Seth Long
Executive Director
HOMES Inc.
Cassia Herron
Planning and Strategy Consultant
Consultant
Cara Cooper
Coordinator
Kentuckians for Energy Democracy
Shelby Green
Research and Communications Manager
Energy and Policy Institute
Clare Wallace
Executive Director
South Louisville Community Ministries
Eboni Cochran
Co-Director
Rubbertown Emergency ACTion
Nick Hart
Director of Water Policy
Kentucky Waterways Alliance
Dr. Natasha DeJarnett
Assistant Professor
Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute
Mary Cromer
Deputy Director
Appalachian Citizens' Law Center
Dr. Lauren Heberle
Director and Chair Professor
Center for Environmental Policy and Management – Department of Sociology – U of L
Alicia Race
Climate resilience Policy Advocate
Union of Concerned Scientists
Chris Woolery
Energy Projects Coordinator
Mountain Association
Tony Curtis
Executive Director
Metropolitan Housing Coalition
MADE FOR BUILDING CONNECTION
Explore The Agenda
Full Day Agenda
Full Day Agenda
8-9 Registration and opening breakfast
9-10:30 Breakfast Keynote
10:30-10:50 20 minute break
10:50-12 Breakout sessions #1
12-12:15 15 minute break
12:15-1:45 Lunch Keynote
1:45-2 15 minute break
2-3:10 Breakout sessions #2
3:10-3:30 20 minute break
3:30-4:40 Panel
4:45-5:45 Networking Cocktail Hour
6-7:30 Dinner Keynote
Breakfast Keynote
Breakfast Keynote
9:00 – 10:30 AM
Affordability Beyond the Rent: Utility Burdens and the True Cost of Housing in Louisville, KYDr. William Bryan, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
In September 2025, MHC released our first housing and utility affordability report, Affordability Beyond the Rent: Utility Burdens and the True Cost of Housing in Louisville, KY, in partnership with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA). During his keynote address, Dr. Bryan will expand upon the findings of the report, which explored the challenges of utility affordability, reviewed current Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) cases and the regulatory landscape, and provided policy recommendations to ensure consistent access to affordable housing and essential utilities for all members of our community.
Breakout Session 1
Breakout Session 1
10:50 AM – 12:00 PM
Topic 1: Renewable EnergyModerated by: Cassia Herron
Andy McDonald, Apogee Climate and Energy Transitions
Seth Long, HOMES Inc.
Discover how investing in renewable energy can lower utility costs for Kentuckians, making housing more affordable. This session will cover opportunities in solar and net metering, and how smart policy and investment can reduce utility burdens while supporting economic growth and environmental sustainability
Topic 2: Water AffordabilityModerated by: Dr. Lauren Heberle, University of Louisville
Speaker To Be Announced
Mary Cromer, Appalachian Citizens Law Center
Access to affordable water is essential for healthy and stable communities. This session explores the challenges of rising water costs, policy solutions to ensure equitable access, and the impact of water affordability on households and housing stability in Kentucky.
Lunch Keynote
Lunch Keynote
12:15 – 1:45 PM
How Utility Policy Works And Why It Matters for KentuckyKent Chandler, R Street Fellows and former KY Public Service Commission Chair
Hear from an expert with experience at the Public Service Commission and in utility policy, including current work at R Street. Gain a behind-the-scenes look at how good utility policy is shaped, what’s happening in Kentucky’s energy landscape, and the impact on housing affordability and utility costs.
Breakout Session 2
Breakout Session 2
2:00 – 3:10 PM
Topic 1: Electric DisconnectionsModerated by Clare Wallace, South Louisville Community Ministries
Cara Cooper, Kentuckians for Energy Democracy
Shelby Green, Energy and Policy Institute
Utility disconnections are a pressing issue in Kentucky. Hear from experts working both on the ground and at the policy level about efforts to prevent service shutoffs, and the health and economic impacts of disconnections on families.
Topic 2: Water EquityModerated by Dr. Natasha DeJarnett, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute UofL
Eboni Cochran, Rubbertown Emergency Action
Nick Hart, Kentucky Waterways Alliance
Equitable access to water is a human right. Hear from experts on the ground and at the policy level and their work to ensure all Kentuckians have access to reliable water.
Dinner Keynote
Dinner Keynote
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Power Play: How Data Centers Shape Our Energy FutureBrionté McCorkle, Georgia Conservation Voters
Data centers are rapidly expanding across the U.S., but what does that mean for local energy use and utility costs? Join Brionté McCorkle, nationally recognized climate justice leader and Executive Director of Georgia Conservation Voters, for a conversation on how data centers are reshaping the energy landscape and how communities can get involved in decisions affecting rates, reliability, and energy policy.
Catering
Catering
Provided by Mayan Cafe
Vegan and vegetarian options available
(will be indicated on registration form)
Coffee and water all day, snacks during breaks
Breakfast: Breakfast burrito and potatoes
Lunch: Taco bar, rice, and beans
Cocktail Hour: Passed Apps: Oljadra and chicken taquitos
Dinner: chicken mole, jalapeno mashed potatoes, tok-sel lima beans, and salad.
Dessert: orange cardamom cookie and mexican chocolate cookies.
Vegetarian Option: Chilaquiles
Meet The Panel
2025 was a year of major reports on housing, energy, and water affordability. This panel brings together representatives from leading organizations (Kentucky Resources Council, Appalachian Citizens Law Center, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, and Union of Concerned Scientists) to highlight key findings and discuss the policies needed to advance affordable utilities and housing across the commonwealth and the nation
Hosted At the Historic Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center is a non-profit museum and cultural center dedicated to boxer Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The Ali Center highlights Muhammad Ali as a symbol of courage, portraying him as a powerful and compassionate figure in both boxing and social justice.
Our Sponsors
Join Us and Advocate For An Affordable Louisville
Affordable housing doesn’t exist without affordable utilities, and it’s time we talk about both. Join us to learn from experts, explore solutions, and be part of the movement toward truly affordable living. This is the perfect moment to learn, share, and take action.