As we transition away from gas, oil, and propane for cleaner, more sustainable solutions, we have an opportunity to right the wrongs of climate, environmental and energy injustice and build stronger, more equitable local economies through what has been called the “Just Energy Transition,” moving from an extractive economy to a regenerative one.  That’s why we at Greater Grove Hall Main Streets developed the Green Zone Planning Framework to help communities and decision makers figure out what a just energy transition looks like for their community.

A just energy transition for environmental justice communities is an essential component of addressing climate change and ensuring equitable outcomes for all populations. Here are the key aspects of the Green Zones planning framework:

Inclusive decision-making: Environmental justice communities, which are often disproportionately affected by pollution and the impacts of climate change, must be actively included in the decision-making processes related to energy siting e.g. where we put transformers, sub-stations, battery storage and transition. To ensure fair and equitable outcomes, we must listen to residents’ voices and address their needs and concerns. We can achieve meaningful community stakeholder engagement by educating residents using data visualization, so they can contribute to informed community decision-making.

Mitigating disproportionate impacts: Energy transition policies and initiatives should prioritize mitigating the disproportionate impacts experienced by environmental justice communities. These neighborhoods often bear the brunt of pollution from fossil fuel infrastructure, and we must focus our efforts on preventing further harm and promoting environmental and health improvements.

Equitable access to clean energy: Transitioning to a clean energy economy should prioritize ensuring equitable access to renewable energy resources and energy efficiency measures for all communities. This includes renter access to home-based clean energy technology and energy efficiency. Also, there is a need to address barriers such as upfront out-of-pocket investments, affordability, and program complexity, all of which tend to hinder accessibility for residents of environmental justice communities, thus limiting their participation.

Green jobs and economic opportunities: A just energy transition should create jobs and provide opportunities for economic development within environmental justice communities. Investments in renewable energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and related industries can create good, well-paying jobs and support the local economy.

Health and environmental co-benefits: Environmental justice communities often experience higher levels of air and water pollution than other areas, leading to adverse health outcomes. A just energy transition should prioritize reducing pollution and improving environmental quality in these neighborhoods, so residents can enjoy improved health.

Community-led initiatives: Encouraging and supporting community-led initiatives is crucial to ensuring a just energy transition.  Empowering local communities to develop and choose their own energy solutions, including opportunities for community-owned clean energy assets can lead to wealth creation and lead to more tailored and effective outcomes that address specific community needs and priorities.

Addressing historical injustices: Many environmental justice communities have experienced decades, if not centuries, of systemic and environmental injustices. A just energy transition should acknowledge and address these historical injustices through reparative actions, such as investments, job training, and infrastructure improvements within these specific communities.

Education and capacity-building: Access to information and educational resources related to energy transition is essential for environmental justice communities. Providing education and capacity-building programs can empower community members to actively participate in the decision-making processes and effectively engage with clean energy technologies and policies.

Long-term resilience: A just energy transition should aim to enhance the long-term resilience of environmental justice communities. This involves ensuring that the transition is sustainable, adaptable to future challenges, and supports community well-being and social cohesion.

Accountability and monitoring: It is crucial to establish mechanisms for accountability and monitoring to ensure that we meet the goals of a just energy transition for environmental justice communities. Regular evaluation, reporting, and feedback loops can help identify and address any gaps or shortcomings in implementation.

Free from fraud and scams:  Whenever there is a crisis e.g. natural disaster, pandemic, and large amounts of money are involved, scams and fraud are sure to follow. Consumers must be protected when trying to make the transition.

Energy Affordability: Switching from gas to electricity, low to moderate income households will be more burdened than they already are. Any increase in energy burden beyond what LMI customers are already paying is punitive. The current reality is that wealthier communities are making the transition rapidly while low-income communities are paralyzed. Making matters worse as more customers move to all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking, the families that are unable to afford the transition are stuck with a stranded gas system that will become increasingly more expensive per household. The transition puts upward pressure on electric rates thus creating another energy burden challenge.

There is a need to modernize the rate-making process to make it more transparent and to create new rate classes that enable low-income families to pay a fairer price for the electricity they consume.

Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations.