Major news coming out of Pennsylvania: the House just passed House Bill 1842, transformative legislation that would enable access to community solar energy statewide!

Thanks to the tireless work of clean energy and environmental justice advocates, volunteers, and elected officials, this crucial bill clearing the House is a major milestone.

“We’re thrilled to share that a pivotal piece of legislation enabling statewide access to community solar has passed the Pennsylvania House. While this marks a transformative step in enabling widespread access to community solar statewide, the work is far from over,” said Elowyn Corby, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at Vote Solar. “As we celebrate this achievement, our focus remains on advocating for the strongest and most equitable program possible, putting community needs and voices at the center of the conversation. We hope our Senators can continue this vital progress by further strengthening and  passing this piece of legislation, which represents an opportunity to empower communities and expand access to clean energy. By rallying behind this bill, we will build a more sustainable, more clean, and more equitable Pennsylvania for all Pennsylvanians.”

The post Progress Towards Community Solar Access in Pennsylvania appeared first on Vote Solar.

Energy Always Starts at an Intersection

By Andrea Léon-Grossmann

As we commemorate Women’s History Month, Vote Solar pays tribute to the impactful legacy of Dr. Espanola Jackson, a trailblazer in the realms of clean energy and environmental justice. Her steadfast commitment to intersectionality and community empowerment has left an indelible mark on the landscape of sustainable development and marks our work with inspiration.

Embracing Intersectionality: Bridging Gaps and Building Bridges

Dr. Espanola Jackson’s journey in clean energy was characterized by a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues. She recognized the importance of addressing the needs of diverse communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by environmental challenges. Her advocacy emphasized the importance of inclusivity and equity in the pursuit of sustainable solutions.

Starting Local: Seeds of Change in Communities

Dr. Jackson championed initiatives that enabled  local communities to take control of their energy futures. From advocating for renewable energy projects to promoting energy efficiency programs, her work focused on addressing the specific needs and challenges of neighborhoods facing environmental injustices. By starting locally, she laid the groundwork for broader systemic change.

Strengthening Community Bonds: Collaboration and Solidarity

At the heart of  Dr. Espanola Jackson’s philosophy was the belief in the power of community collaboration. She understood that meaningful progress in clean energy and environmental justice required the collective efforts of engaged and empowered communities. Through her work, she fostered partnerships and collaborations that built resilience and solidarity, ensuring that voices from all corners were heard, resonated and mattered..

Celebrating a Legacy of Impact

Every year, Vote Solar honors Dr. Jackson’s enduring impact through an award given to visionary leaders of color who follow her footsteps. Her legacy illuminates the profound significance  of intersectionality, community engagement, and grassroots activism in shaping a world that is both  more sustainable and equitable. Dr. Jackson’s  legacy continues to inspire and guide us in our collective journey towards a brighter future.

The post Honoring Dr. Espanola Jackson appeared first on Vote Solar.

We, the undersigned organizations, represent a broad and diverse coalition fighting for equitable, affordable, reliable community solar-plus-storage in California.

We write to focus your attention on the California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) crippling proposed decision affecting the future of community solar development in California.

The decision runs counter to the recent efforts by both our state and our country to support affordability while meeting ambitious climate and energy equity goals by scaling up all forms of renewable electricity generation. Community-scale renewable generation plus storage provides an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen our state’s electric grid and prevent blackouts, all while providing flexible and affordable power to all Californians. At a time when the Department of Energy (DOE) just reaffirmed the federal government’s significant commitment to rapidly deploying third-party developed community solar, challenging the community solar industry to meet a target of 20 gigawatts (GW) of community solar by 2025, California would be going in the wrong direction if this proposed decision is adopted.

The proposed decision is flawed in numerous ways, but most importantly, it fails to provide the foundation needed for California to build a sustainable, scalable community solar program, which will ultimately leave billions of private investment and matching federal dollars on the table and ratepayers without a choice for more affordable, clean energy.

The proposed decision asserts that our coalition’s Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) proposal violates federal law under PURPA by bringing about an entirely new wholesale electricity seller in California. This assertion is in error. Decades of community solar development, as proven by 22 state programs across the country, directly refute that claim.

The proposed decision also hampers the growth of distributed energy resources for low-to-moderate income (LMI) households and the creation of well-paying jobs in disadvantaged communities. Doing so flies in the face of the Biden administration’s Justice40 environmental justice initiative by slowing the shuttering of fossil fuel generation in vulnerable communities — a worrying trend that Governor Newsom is, in part, enabling. California’s ambition to be a national environmental justice leader will undoubtedly suffer. 

Cost-shift, an often misunderstood topic, has been addressed directly by the NVBT proposal. Ratepayer advocates have repeatedly shown that the NVBT proposal is a good deal for all ratepayers.

In addition, pairing battery storage with each community solar project going forward will be essential to improving grid reliability and guarding against blackouts. This proposed decision makes storage optional and does nothing to incentivize developers to incorporate storage in future projects.

Ultimately, the proposed decision does not support affordability, encourages cost-shift, and leaves California stuck in the past without a viable path forward to meet necessary clean energy and environmental justice goals.

However, the fate of community solar in California can still be altered for the better. Third-party enabled, optimized community solar programs scale rapidly, drive greater bill savings for subscribers, and produce the maximum amount of LMI participation, especially in light of the federal Solar for All and tax credit incentives. A successful program that embraces the thoughtful, market-tested NVBT would enable more than one million Californians to save at least $300 per year; that’s $5 to $9 billion dollars back in the pockets of hard-working Californians over the life of these projects. This development could also reduce emissions equivalent to taking 600,000 cars off the road and provide enough capacity to shut down more than half of the state’s peaker plants.

These goals are still attainable if state officials review the flaws of the current proposed decision and support the widely-backed NVBT proposal. Our state’s most vulnerable households and communities, and their ability to access bill savings and clean energy, heavily depend on it.

Sincerely,

Coalition for Community Solar Access
California Environmental Justice Alliance
Natural Resources Defense Council
Vote Solar
The Utility Reform Network
GRID Alternatives 

The post California Coalition Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom on CPUC’s Proposed Decision appeared first on Vote Solar.

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Appalachian Voices, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org
Gaby Sarri-Tobar, Center for Biological Diversity, (202) 594-7271, gsarritobar@biologicaldiversity.org
Amy Rawe, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, (865) 235-1448, amyr@cleanenergy.org
Karli Marshall, Vote Solar, (813) 408 4887, kmarshall@votesolar.org    

Advocates applaud introduction of new legislation to increase public participation in Tennessee Valley Authority planning process

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. and Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., introduced new legislation to improve the Tennessee Valley Authority’s long-term energy planning process. The TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act proposes changes to increase public participation in the federally owned utility’s integrated resource planning process, while also requiring the utility to take into account certain factors to ensure the plan will result in clean, sustainable, reliable and affordable energy for people in the Tennessee Valley region. 

The bill follows a public hearing held by advocacy groups earlier this year, which called attention to TVA’s faulty IRP process and featured in-depth presentations from expert witnesses, recorded appearances from three federal officials and a speech by Tennessee State Rep. Justin J. Pearson. Cohen announced his intent to introduce the legislation in a pre-recorded statement that was played during the hearing. 

“The Tennessee Valley Authority conducts its energy planning process behind closed doors, without substantial input from external experts and the people who are impacted by these decisions the most,” said Appalachian Voices Director of Public Power Campaigns Brianna Knisley. “Meaningfully involving the public in the planning process will not only make TVA more accountable to its customers and impacted communities, but will also vastly improve the quality of the resulting plans. Members of Congress who support public accountability for this federal utility should co-sponsor this bill.”

The new legislation would establish an Office of Public Participation, which is charged with directly engaging with the public and facilitating both public education and input into TVA matters. The bill would also require TVA to publicly release critical information such as modeling assumptions and to collect feedback before a draft integrated resource plan is released. It further directs the Office of Public Participation to set a process for stakeholder intervention and discovery in the IRP. 

“The TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act is a pivotal step towards modernizing TVA’s resource planning process, aligning it with industry standards put in place for most utilities in the 1990s,” said Jake Duncan, Southeast Regulatory Director at Vote Solar. “Monopoly utilities like TVA don’t face the pressure of the free market, so meaningful transparency and oversight by the public and the TVA board is crucial to ensuring that the nation’s largest public utility genuinely plans in the people’s interest.”

“This bill will pull back the curtain on our country’s largest federal utility, which is plowing forward on its long-term energy plan while leaving communities in the dark,” said Gaby Sarri-Tobar, Energy Justice Campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “For too long, TVA has been unaccountable, making decisions behind closed doors that burden ratepayers with more fossil fuel pollution, blackouts and rising utility costs. TVA’s 10 million customers will live under this plan for decades and people deserve to have a say about what’s in it.”

“TVA is a monopoly utility that’s making critical decisions that impact our lives for decades to come,” said Maggie Shober, Research Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “It is important that those decisions are informed by accurate information and the will of the people. This bill clarifies the need for transparency and accountability to the public in TVA’s long-term planning process. Since TVA cannot be held accountable through state regulators, this bill addresses this accountability gap and holds TVA responsible for serving the people of the Tennessee Valley rather than their profits.”

Unlike most utilities, TVA is not regulated by a state utility commission. For-profit utilities and their regulators are required to get public input and host a formal proceeding in which anyone with cause — individuals, companies, nonprofits — can participate, request data and submit expert testimony to inform the regulator’s evidence-based decision. The TVA board of directors takes on the role of regulator but has largely taken a hands-off approach with the current IRP, including abstaining from holding a public hearing.

“The IRP will determine the quality of life and the economic future of the communities across the TVA region,” said Sheree Martin, Deputy Director of Energy Alabama. “TVA customers should have a voice in the actual development of TVA’s IRP, not merely an opportunity to comment on a draft. The existing process does not allow for meaningful participation because the plan is already a draft when the public-facing IRP planning process is announced. The TVA IRP Act is a step in the right direction.”

TVA will be releasing its draft IRP later this month and will be hosting open houses around the region to gather feedback. It remains unclear whether community feedback will result in substantive changes to TVA’s final IRP.

The post Advocates applaud introduction of new legislation to increase public participation in Tennessee Valley Authority planning process appeared first on Vote Solar.

Contact: Lycia Ortega, Vote Solar, (928) 750-0581, lortega@votesolar.org

Community Solar Advocates Call on State Leadership to Halt Devastating Blow to Equitable Access to Solar Resources

The recent proposed decision puts CA behind in achieving a clean energy future and puts federal funding at risk.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 7, 2024) – Vote Solar, California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) urge immediate action to avoid the devastating impacts of the proposed decision (PD) by the California Public Utilities Commission this week, which would reject the Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) community solar and storage proposal championed by a broad coalition of environmental justice, labor, developers, and affordability advocates.

The NVBT community solar and storage program would enable customers to benefit from thousands of low-cost clean and reliable community solar and storage projects. Projects would include storage to help boost grid reliability, and importantly, provide a clean energy option to the millions of Californians who rent or otherwise aren’t able to install a solar system directly. Access to solar bill savings is especially needed as millions of low-income households are behind on their bills, and there is federal funding at stake that could bring greater benefits for these households.

Regrettably, the Commission’s proposed decision would reject the NVBT program, and instead proposes an alternative based on methods that have failed to build projects. Instead of learning from past mistakes, the PD continues to rely on an uneconomic model that has failed for years, thus violating the AB 2316 requirements for robust access to community solar. This program would not work for Californians.

We are calling for the Commission and State leadership to ensure this PD is amended, and instead adopt the NVBT which is a proven model for community solar and storage throughout the country. Doing this will be critical to unlock equitable community solar and storage access for all Californians, safely retire polluting gas plants in overburdened communities, and put the State in a better position for securing time-sensitive federal funding. 

###

About Vote Solar

Vote Solar is an energy justice non-profit working towards a 100% clean energy future by bringing solar to the mainstream. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advocates for clean energy in legislative and regulatory arenas at the state level, where most decisions about electricity are made. Despite powerful opposition, we use a winning combination of deep policy expertise, coalition building, and public engagement to get the job done. To learn more, visit: https://votesolar.org/

About California Environmental Justice Alliance 

The California Environmental Justice Alliance is a statewide, community-led alliance that works to achieve environmental justice by advancing policy solutions. We unite the powerful local organizing of our members in the communities most impacted by environmental hazards – low-income communities and communities of color  – to create comprehensive opportunities for change at a statewide level to alleviate poverty and pollution. To learn more, visit: https://caleja.org/ 

About Natural Resources Defense Council

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at  http://www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

The post Community Solar Advocates Call on State Leadership to Halt Devastating Blow to Equitable Access to Solar Resources appeared first on Vote Solar.

Hi friends,

As Black History Month draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the profound impact this month has had on me personally, particularly within the context of my work here at Vote Solar.

Though, I should probably introduce myself.

I’m Karli Marshall, the Regional Communications Associate that engages with you through social media and email. Nice to meet you! 

I, along with plenty of other lovely folks, work behind-the-scenes to keep our organization holistic and running. As a Black person, this month holds special significance for me, as it provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and resilience of the Black community while also acknowledging the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

“Constant inspiration” are the words that come to mind when I think of the incredible individuals I have the privilege of working alongside every day. Their brilliance, creativity, and resilience serve as a constant reminder of the rich tapestry of the Black experience and the indomitable spirit that resides within our community.

But along with celebrating achievements, it’s crucial to acknowledge and remember the harsh reality of systemic anti-Blackness that continues to permeate every facet of society. From racial profiling to environmental injustice, the struggles faced by Black folks are multifarious and persistent.

Yet, in the face of these challenges, my colleagues at Vote Solar have risen above with unwavering determination and rigor. I think of Charlene Turner, who is not only our Director of Operations but also dedicates her time to running her own non-profit envisioning community service careers for women, empowering communities through education and advocacy. Then there’s Lou Badger, whose artistic vision exceeds boundaries in the world of sustainability and whose designs have graced the pages of Vogue Italia and other renowned publications worldwide. And, of course, there is Dr. WIlliam Munn III, whose leadership and dedication to public service inspire us all, balancing a demanding career, the chairmanship of the Hoke County Democratic Party in North Carolina, and his role as a devoted family man. This is just a handful of Black talent in our organization.

Despite facing immense obstacles and enduring systemic injustices, they continue to defy expectations and carve out spaces for themselves in industries where Black voices are often silenced or ignored.

In celebrating Black History Month, it’s essential to recognize the intersectionality of our identities. As a Black queer person, I understand firsthand the importance of acknowledging and uplifting those whose identities intersect in complex and often marginalized ways. We must amplify the voices of Black queer individuals, disabled Black individuals, immigrant Black individuals – recognizing that their stories are integral to the tapestry of Black history.

And within the realm of environmentalism, there are countless examples of African American individuals who have made significant contributions to the movement for sustainability and environmental justice. From Dr. Espanola Jackson’s work in equity, economic justice and environmental justice in San Francisco to Majora Carter‘s transformative efforts in urban revitalization and environmental justice in the South Bronx – these are just a few examples of the impact African American environmentalists have had on shaping a more sustainable future for us all.

As we honor the achievements of Black individuals past and present, let us also recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for justice and equality. Let us actively advocate for inclusive policies and representation, and stand in solidarity with African American environmentalists and their endeavors to create a healthier, more sustainable world for all.

In solidarity,

Karli Marshall

The post Celebrating Black History Month: A Reflection appeared first on Vote Solar.

In 2019, spurred by a mass movement of citizen, labor, and environmental groups, New York passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA or Climate Act). This law requires that the State reach 70 percent renewable power by 2030, and 100 percent by 2040. Last spring, our representatives took a major step to ensure we meet those goals–  the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA). This empowers the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to build out renewable infrastructure to ensure that NewYork keeps up with the pace of energy transition required by the Climate Act.

NYPA just released its first Renewable Energy Conferral Report, an important measure of the State’s progress towards the targets established by the Climate Act of 2019. The report is also intended to summarize various stakeholders’ assessments of this progress and to reflect on NYPA’s role in developing new renewable generation. The Conferral Report serves as a vital preview to NYPA’s biennial strategic plan, scheduled for release in January 2025 that will set the terms for NYPA’s significantly expanded mission to provide the swift energy transition mandated by the BPRA.

The Conferral Report suggests that Governor Kathy Hochul, and NYPA leaders like CEO Justin Driscoll, need to take the mandate for a rapid and just energy transition given to NYPA far more seriously. 

In its assessment of Climate Act progress, the Conferral Report notes that “the contracted portfolio of renewable energy projects is in a persistent state of flux.” This admission of “flux” – although crisis might have been a better term – was no doubt prompted by the Public Service Commission rejecting requests for more public subsidies for wind projects in October. Striking an optimistic note in the face of this significant setback, the Conferral Report notes that the state  plans to issue a new accelerated solicitation for renewable resources to “backfill” any contracted land-based or offshore projects whose contracts are terminated. 

But can the public rely on this new round of solicitations to be any more successful than the ones thrown into crisis in October? The Conferral Report admits that “it is possible that the number of currently-contracted renewable contracts could decrease in the near future” and that “some level of attrition can be expected,” but remains remarkably optimistic about NYSERDA’s new round of procurements, arguing that “updated competitive pricing” will keep New York on track to meet the Climate Act goals.

This optimism lacks a realistic view of how well renewable projects are progressing in the state. The Conferral Report’s claim that New York “has enough operating, contracted, and under-development renewable energy projects to supply 79% of the State’s 2030 electricity needs with renewable energy” cites nothing more than a press release issued by Governor Hochul’s office as evidence. It’s worth recalling that the mentioned press release was issued just two weeks after several contracted projects, covering 25% of the state’s expected electricity demand in 2030, faced uncertainty. A significant portion of the projects alluded to are, in other words, not yet even contracted. Will these “under-development” projects really be completed?

The Mind the Gap report, commissioned by the Public Power NY coalition, confirms these worrying conclusions about completion rates for contracted projects. Using detailed analysis of data for NYS’s current rate of renewables deployment, analysts concluded that, under a business-as-usual scenario, NYS will only reach 45 percent renewable energy by 2030 (a gap of 41,441 gigawatt hours). Even under the most optimistic scenario – with low growth in energy demand and high success of interconnection – there will be a gap of over 14,000 GWh, leaving the state at only 61 percent renewables.

In contrast to the Conferral Report, the Mind the Gap report uses solid data to show that Governor Hochul and NYPA’s current strategy isn’t effective. The reliance on for-profit corporations to address climate challenges is clearly falling short.

This should not be surprising. Big multinational companies like BP, Orsted, and Equinor, key players in the troubled offshore wind contracts, are focused on maximizing profits. They’ll easily abandon contracts if current market conditions don’t promise significant earnings. These major players are grappling with economic challenges too — Orsted shares hit a record low after the company abandoned some US projects. They won’t commit to new projects in our state without a guarantee of substantial returns.

Given the urgency of decarbonization, we need an alternative approach. As the Mind the Gap report concludes, to ensure that New York State reaches its renewable energy goals, “public sector entities [such as NYPA] must play a more proactive role in RE deployment beyond market development and support for private sector project development.” As a nonprofit authority accountable to the people of New York State, NYPA can deploy projects at cost to serve the state’s needs and prioritize community benefits. 

FDR established NYPA in 1932 with the belief that the government should develop state or federally owned power sites. It is high time that the current leadership of NYPA and Governor Hochul embrace the legacy and mission of NYPA to provide public power at a time of great urgency. We need public power adequate to the scale of the climate crisis, and we need it now.

Ashley Dawson is a professor at the City University of New York and author of People’s Power: Reclaiming the Energy Commons (2020). Lindsay Griffin is Regulatory Director for the Northeast with Vote Solar. Both are members of Public Power NY.

The post The Rift between NYPA’s Vision and New York’s Renewable Needs appeared first on Vote Solar.

William Munn, PhD

From the confines of a Birmingham jail in 1963, where he courageously stood as a participant in demonstrations against segregation, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. penned a heartfelt letter in longhand. His powerful words serve as a poignant reminder that individuals bear a moral duty to boldly stand against injustice and champion the cause of equality. 

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail

I feel pulled to reflect on this particular portion of the letter as I think about Dr. King’s legacy and how it shines on work in the energy landscape. Across industries and disciplines, activists and academics, there is always talk of how our different issues touch and intersect. It rightly blows our minds every time. 

In academic circles, there’s reverence for the work of Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectionality, the study of overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination, or discrimination. In clean energy, interconnection is what brings us all to the grid, the set of rules that dictate how clean energy resources such as solar can be safely and reliably connected to the electricity grid. In Dr. King’s letter, he speaks about interconnectedness, where none of us are outsiders – where injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. 

I think about themes of connection every day in our work. I’m immensely proud to be led by frontline and Black-led organizations, who are boundless teachers to me and my colleagues. They connect us to the truth and ground us to our mission. But people are exhausted and overburdened. Even the folks who can muster up the time out of their schedule to advocate for their rights, are shut out by bureaucratic hindrances and additional systemic barriers like educational resources for the highly-technical system of interconnection.

All in all; it just shouldn’t be this hard to keep someone’s lights on. When we think of the topic of energy burden, defined by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as “as the percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs,” low-wealth households experience a disproportionately higher energy burden. This is an extremely common disparity, and I highly recommend you visit the DOE’s Low-income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool that illustrates this major systemic issue.

In honoring Dr. King’s pursuit of Black liberation, let’s remember he was seen as a trailblazer of his time, paying the ultimate price for his beliefs. Courageously standing with systematically oppressed communities, he challenged the institution of white supremacy. His commitment to interconnectedness, ensuring no one was left behind, remains a powerful catalyst for change. At Vote Solar, we understand that the pursuit of racial justice and climate justice are tied – for a true and just transition, we must unroot, dismantle, and redress all forms of anti-Blackness and structural, systemic racism. This attitude is what inspires our work as environmental advocates and exemplifies how crucial the demystification and access to interconnection for all people is. 

Interconnection is particularly important to frontline communities due to decades of underinvestment in grid infrastructure in their communities. This resulted in old infrastructure in their communities and, in some cases, challenges in reliability. Historically marginalized communities that have an opportunity to develop local clean energy projects will need to navigate the interconnection process, which can often be very technical, overly complex, and costly. This dynamic is inequitable. The key to communities securing low-cost, reliable energy is ensuring that the process is clarified, easily accessible and fully understood by the members of these communities. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy calls upon us to collectively confront the systemic inequities that persist in our shared world. This is particularly crucial as we strive for a future powered by clean energy, one that grants liberation to all and bequeaths future generations with a habitable and sustainable Earth. By prioritizing the empowerment of Black-led organizations and Black advocates who have firsthand experience working with frontline, low-wealth, and energy-burdened communities, we will strengthen the diversity of our movement. We believe that this diversity will enrich our understanding and allow us to devise more effective, equity-centered solutions. Let us work together to reshape the energy landscape, making it more inclusive, sustainable, and just for all. 

Black-led organizations to follow:

1. Center for Energy Education, North Carolina: https://center4ee.org/
2. Greening Youth Foundation, Georgia: gyfoundation.org 
3. Hip Hop Caucus, National: https://hiphopcaucus.org/ 
4. National Black Environmental Justice Network, Louisiana: https://www.nbejn.com/ 
5. Freedom Agenda, New York: https://fa.urbanjustice.org/
6. Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Michigan: https://detroitenvironmentaljustice.org/
7. The Black Hive, National: https://m4bl.org/the-black-hive/
8. Green the Church, National: greenthechurch.org
9. Blacks in Green, Illinois: blacksingreen.org
10. Black Parents United Foundation (BPUF), Colorado: https://www.blackparentsunitedfoundation.org/
11. Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC), Pennsylvania: blackappalachiancoalition.org
12. Black Voters Matter, Georgia: https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/
13. Partnership for Southern Equity, Southeast: https://psequity.org/
14. Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Southeast: https://www.dscej.org/
15. Florida Rising, Florida: https://floridarising.org/

The post Reflections on Dr. King’s Interconnectedness appeared first on Vote Solar.

Contacts:
Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter, (602) 999-5790, sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org
Yara Marin, Vote Solar, (602) 492-6077, Yara@votesolar.org 

Phoenix, AZ  – Today, 25 plus organizations, including Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter, Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders for Equity (AZ AANHPI for Equity), Arizona Interfaith Power and Light (AZIPL), Chispa Arizona, Vote Solar, and other environmental, faith, and Indigenous groups presented 2024 Environmental Priorities for the Arizona Legislature and Governor. The priorities were presented in the context of water as a top priority and include climate and clean energy, environmental justice, land protection, and democracy, among other issues.  

The groups are asking legislators to pass and the governor to sign bills that will help to better conserve water to provide for a more sustainable future and protect rivers and streams, prioritize climate actions to promote clean energy and reduce pollution and to direct resources to communities that have disproportionately suffered the impacts of climate change. They ask that the legislature and governor prioritize environmental justice to address the disparate impacts of environmental harm to communities of color, protect public lands and wildlife, and to advance measures that make it easier for people to vote.

“It’s time to implement forward-thinking solutions that ensure a sustainable future for Arizona,” said Yara Marin, Western Regional Director, Vote Solar. By investing in clean energy generation, we not only reduce our environmental impact but also forge a path towards resilience. Let this be a rallying cry for a water-smart and sustainable Arizona, where the intersection of water, communities, and clean energy becomes the cornerstone of our shared prosperity.”

“As we head into 2024 and make plans for the year, it’s important to think about how the upcoming summer will impact our communities here in Arizona,” said Alondra Morales, Climate Justice Program Coordinator with AZ AANHPI for Equity. “We can’t ignore the water crisis and should take proactive steps to address the inevitable challenges that will arise.”

Ensuring  access to democracy for every Arizonan is the key to creating a better Arizona for generations to come, said Melanie Beikman, Executive Director for Arizona Interfaith Power and Light..

“This upcoming legislative session, Chispa Arizona will continue to work with our members to feel empowered to advocate for policy solutions that prioritize environmental justice in communities most directly impacted by extreme heat and poor air quality,” said Vania Guevara, Advocacy Deputy Director, Chispa Arizona.

“We think it is important for legislators and Governor Hobbs to understand that our communities are prioritizing protection of our water, addressing climate change, promoting environmental justice, and ensuring access to voting and other aspects of our democracy,” said Sandy Bahr, Director for Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. “We cannot afford to wait to tackle these important issues. We cannot and must not defer actions and impacts to future generations.”

A livestream of the news conference can be found here.

The following organizations have signed on to the priorities to date.

Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Climate Action Coalition
Arizona Faith Network
Arizona Interfaith Power and Light
Arizonans for Community Choice
AZ AANHPI For Equity
Brophy Student Climate Coalition
Champion PR + Consulting
Chispa Arizona
Climate Cabinet Action
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
Elders Climate Action – AZ
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Northern Arizona Broadband
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Sonoran Broadband
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Tucson Broadband
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Yavapai-Prescott Broadband
Kids Climate Action Network
Living United for Change in Arizona
Moms Clean Air Force – Arizona
Physicians for Social Responsibility, AZ Chapter
Rural Arizona Action
Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter
Sustainable Tucson
Tucson Audubon Society
Vote Solar
Western Watersheds Project
Yuma Audubon Society

Senator Brian Fernandez
Representative Mariana Sandoval
Representative Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton

The post For Immediate Release: Groups Release 2024 Environmental Priorities for Arizona Legislature and Governor appeared first on Vote Solar.

January 4, 2023

Contact: Karli Marshall, Vote Solar, kmarshall@votesolar.org

TRENTON, N.J. — Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill to strengthen the state’s community solar program, increasing its overall size and expanding access by meaningfully eliminating barriers for low- and moderate- income (LMI) residents’ participation.

Members of the NJ Shines Coalition and the Clean Energy Jobs NJ Coalition applaud this step forward, and are thrilled to round out the legislative session with a major win for equitable access to clean energy.

Community solar is a powerful tool to expand access to the benefits of solar regardless of income level or housing type, and to provide every New Jerseyan the opportunity to choose local, reliable, and lower-cost clean energy solutions. As part of the permanent Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP), 51 percent of the program’s capacity is devoted to serving low- to moderate-income (LMI) subscribers. In addition, subscribers will see a minimum bill credit of 15%, resulting in meaningful guaranteed savings for the communities across the state that stand to benefit the most.

The legislation, A4782/S3123, accomplishes three key things:

• Streamlining Eligibility Verification

This legislation puts self-attestation, a key equity provision within New Jersey’s permanent Community Solar Energy Program, into law. Previously, qualifying for low- and moderate-income (LMI) community solar required extensive documentation of income. This can be frustrating, embarrassing, and decrease overall adoption.

• Allowing municipalities to facilitate access for low income subscribers

This bill allows the sharing of necessary information so that municipalities can identify and subscribe eligible community members to automatically receive energy bill savings. This change ensures that the benefits of clean energy flow to those who need them the most, since at least 80% of municipally aggregated subscribers will be low and moderate income.

• Updating the community solar program’s size

This legislation increases the amount of community solar that NJ will enjoy. The need for community solar, and the public enthusiasm for it, currently outstrips the size of the program. This December, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) announced that it had received enough applications for the Community Solar Energy Program to generate more than 300 megawatts of new solar. By modestly increasing the program’s capacity, the bill accelerates the state’s clean energy transition and expands access to clean energy for more New Jersey residents, regardless of income or housing type.

Expanding equitable access to clean energy is particularly important because overburdened communities, especially communities of color, face disproportionately high utility bills and exposure to air pollution from fossil fuels, often with serious impacts on health and wellbeing.

The bill’s Prime Sponsors are Senators Bob Smith and Linda Greenstein in the Senate, and Representatives John McKeon, Daniel Benson, and Representative Raj Mukherji in the Assembly.

“As we march towards a 100% clean energy future in 2035 for New Jersey, every action that we take in that direction should keep the most vulnerable among us at the forefront of what we do to achieve that.” said Uyen “Winn” Khuong, Executive Director, Action Together New Jersey. “Community solar is one of the most exciting and equitable ways to expand access to clean energy and this bill lowers several barriers for low-income families to save on their energy bills. I am thankful for the leadership of members of the Legislature and the vision of the Governor to get this bill passed into law.”

“New Jersey’s community solar program has rapidly emerged as a national leader in the fight for an equitable clean energy future.” said Elowyn Corby, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for national non-profit Vote Solar. “We’re grateful to the state leaders who have pushed to make this vision a reality, and to the communities across the state who’ve tirelessly worked to prove that we don’t need to choose between speed and equity in our clean energy transition. When we commit to a clean energy transition that puts the interests, health, and wellbeing of people at its center, the sky really is the limit.”

“Making solar more available to low income, urban and people of color communities is environmental justice. Newark residents are on the front lines of overlapping health, climate, economic, racial and democratic crises and this bill helps tackle all of them. It will stimulate business, address climate justice, and reduce the number of kids and seniors gasping for air from an asthma attack, running to the ER, missing school and work, and suffering premature death disproportionately,” said South Ward Environmental Alliance founder Kim Gaddy, a 4th generation Newarker with three asthmatic children.

“This bill is a smart, much needed piece of legislation. It will not only bring down energy bills for low and middle income New Jersayans but also holds strong potential for improved health outcomes for those folks as well, promoting a transition away from reliance on polluting fossil fuels. As such, it is an important step toward addressing long-standing environmental inequities suffered in overburdened communities” said Keith Voos, Environmental Justice Chair of the Metuchen-Edison-Piscataway Branch of the NAACP.

“NJBPU’s community solar program – from its infancy as a pilot project to its now permanent status — has been a clear clean energy home run for New Jersey.  But it’s time to make it even easier. There are hundreds of thousands of residents that want to go solar, but barriers to adoption stopped them in the past. There’s clear demand for community solar and the easier permanent community solar program – with its increased capacity and streamlined application process – will bring more solar for all residents and real savings. Community solar is an obvious solution for New Jersey to generate more in-state clean renewable energy and we thank the Legislature for sending this bill to Gov. Murphy’s desk,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

“This bill is a historic step toward clean energy justice, by making solar energy more accessible to low and moderate income households in New Jersey.” said Anjuli Ramos, Director of the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club. “Everyone deserves access to cleaner energy options regardless of zip code, and this legislation breaks down barriers that normally keep overburdened communities from tapping into solar. The New Jersey Chapter is also pleased to see the capacity for solar increase in the legislation, as we feel the ever increasing urgency of the climate crisis after one of the hottest years on record. This bill is a win for both climate action and climate justice.”

“Regardless of the ZIP Code that you live in, color of your skin or your income, you should be able to get your electricity from a renewable energy source. Making community solar increasingly accessible to homeowners and renters alike is critical to shutting off fossil fuel plants that disproportionately impact these same neighborhoods,”  said Clean Water Action NJ State Director Amy Goldsmith.

“By expanding community solar in overburdened communities, this bill will create good jobs for local residents, reduce lung disease, and fight climate change where that’s all needed the most,” said Empower NJ’s David Pringle.

“During the recent extreme flooding, we once again saw patients from marginalized communities who required emergency responder assistance so they could get to the hospital for life-saving treatment,” said Dan Quinlan, co-leader of the Clinicians for Climate Action New Jersey. “On-the-ground experiences like this are why New Jersey’s health professionals are very pleased to see the passage of this legislation. This program will go a long way toward helping New Jersey equitably reduce carbon pollution – the cause of the extreme weather we are seeing all too often.”

“Our clean, renewable energy future must be accessible to everyone. Community solar removes barriers for low-income New Jerseyans to get the economic and health benefits of solar energy, even if they don’t own their own homes or have access to their roofs,” said Allison McLeod, Senior Policy Director, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “With the passing of this legislation, the sun is shining on a new day for our renewable energy future.”

“Residents of NJ should benefit in numerous ways from increased community solar energy. Air pollutants, particularly particulate matter and ozone, are associated with exacerbation of lung and cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, increases in asthma rates, increases in neurodegenerative disease, learning delays, and premature birth” said Aviva Gans, PT MSPT, a pediatric physical therapist and member of Clinicians for Climate Action New Jersey. “While the benefits from decreased carbon emissions and climate change will take time, many health benefits could be realized more rapidly. Generally fossil fuel burning plants are located in marginalized communities where people suffer most from exposure to pollutants. As fossil fuel based energy is replaced by alternative energy, like solar power, the surrounding  population could reap significant health benefits.”

“Community solar is key to an equitable clean energy transition, but additional barriers for LMI subscribers have been acting as deterrents to prevent many of the people this program was designed to help from participating,” said Gary Skulnik, CEO and Founder of Neighborhood Sun Benefit Corp. “This kind of legislation is essential to meet the growing demand for community solar while also ensuring that the needs of traditionally underserved communities are centered at the forefront of the program’s growth.”

About the NJ Shines Coalition

NJ Shines is a diverse coalition of community-based, social justice, environmental, industry and faith organizations united by the vision of a resilient and equitable solar powered New Jersey that creates opportunities for everyone to thrive.

About the Clean Energy Jobs NJ Coalition

The coalition is composed of more than 40 community, labor, health, faith, equity, environment, and business groups calling for a clean energy transition that doesn’t leave anyone behind.

###

The post For Immediate Release: Bill Strengthening NJ’s Community Solar Program Signed by Governor Murphy appeared first on Vote Solar.