“I’m running for the House of Delegates because families across District 25 deserve a representative who knows how to turn promises into progress, and who will be their strongest advocate in Annapolis.”

Meeting Summary

Quick Recap

The show focused on Antoine Thompson’s background and his campaign for Maryland State Delegate in District 25, where he discussed his humble beginnings and commitment to environmental justice and community advocacy. Thompson shared his work with the Greater Washington Clean Cities Collaboration Group, including initiatives around electric school buses, EV charging stations, and job training programs for underserved communities. The conversation explored the challenges of rising energy costs in the PJM region, data center expansion impacts, and the need for more equitable distribution of clean energy funding. Thompson outlined his policy priorities including minority business development, foreclosure prevention, environmental justice, and student loan forgiveness, while emphasizing the importance of community engagement and leadership in addressing these issues.

Summary

Renewable Energy’s Impact on Black America

Ronald introduced Antoine Thompson, who is running for delegate in Maryland’s District 25, as a guest on the show. Ronald explained that today’s broadcast was rescheduled from its usual Wednesday 11am slot due to technical issues with the YouTube stream. The show’s focus is on the economic impact of renewable energy on Black America, including initiatives for HBCUs, Black-owned farms, and addressing underemployment in the African American community.

Journey to Community Leadership

Antoine shared his personal journey from growing up in Buffalo’s inner city, where he experienced poverty and discrimination, to his current role in Prince George’s County politics. He discussed his work with the Greater Washington Clean Cities Collaboration Group, which focuses on promoting electric school buses and EV charging stations in low- and moderate-income communities across the DMV area. Antoine emphasized his commitment to giving back to the community, referencing his own experiences with government assistance programs and his current efforts to provide scholarships to students.

Energy Costs and Green Initiatives

Antoine highlighted the office’s environmental initiatives, including a green faith program, Future Green Leaders, and electrification efforts, while Ronald discussed the impact of a 689% rate hike in energy costs in the PJM region, which affects data centers in Northern Virginia. Antoine and Ronald agreed on the importance of educating local officials and the public about these issues and the need for more diverse representation in the clean energy sector.

Sustainable Energy Solutions Discussion

Antoine and Ronald discussed the rising cost of utility bills and the need for sustainable energy solutions. Antoine emphasized the importance of addressing data center energy consumption and investing in clean renewable energy. Ronald highlighted the lack of federal funding for energy assistance programs and the disparities in infrastructure investments between red and blue states. Both agreed on the need for innovative leadership and energy efficiency measures to reduce utility costs for consumers.

Antoine’s Vision for District 25

Antoine discussed his plans for his first 100 days in office if elected as State Delegate in District 25, including prioritizing community engagement, addressing energy efficiency, and reforming homeowner associations and foreclosure prevention. He outlined initiatives to improve environmental justice, education, and student loan forgiveness, as well as increasing lottery funding for education. Ronald highlighted the importance of supporting Black-owned media and emphasized the need for local officials to advocate for HR 898, a bill to codify equal opportunities in federal contracting. Antoine expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share his vision and encouraged listeners to support his campaign.

Next Steps

• Ronald: Send the recorded interview to Antoine and explore uplinking it to YouTube for broader distribution.
• Antoine: Look into the state lottery funds to ensure more resources are reaching classrooms and scholarships, and investigate how lottery money is being utilized to benefit young people.