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Author: Ronald Bethea      Published: 12/23/2024   Positive Change Purchasing Cooperative LLC.

Positive Change Purchasing Cooperative LLC is launching A National Media Campaign. Using AI technology and social media to raise the attention and urgent need for President Biden and Harris administration to address this urgent and pressing problem.

 QUESTIONS:

  • Where is the Green Economic Development Plan in the implementation of excutive order 14008 Invest In America Agenda?
  • The words justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion have been constantly used inside six government agencies.

THE PROBLEM:

  • But what does it really mean?

The US Department of Energy Office of Energy Justic and Equity (EJE) is getting ready to be completely eliminated across all 6 federal agencies. Because Bidens Administration Build Back Better and Inflation Reduction Act were done by Executive Orders.

Only 2% of the 1.7 trillion dollars was allocated funding was directed and delivered to African American Banks, Business, CDFI’s, Churches and non-profit organization.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Executive Order 14008 Which created the Justice40 Initiatives, Build Back Better and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)..

Which clearly stated that 40 percent of the benefit must be directed to low- and moderate-income communities nationally. But recent data released by the Biden and Harris administration out 1.7 trillion  dollars spent less that (2) percent. Has gone to African American Banks, Business, CDFI’s, Churches and non-profit organization.

The largest benefactor of government minority contracts were white women. An (53%) percent of white women voted for Trump against their own interest. This coupled with Project 2025 clearly makes the case for the new administration to eliminate The US Department of Energy Office of Energy Justic and Equity creates an environment and political climate they will eviscerate the gains made in climate action and equity in America.  One of the most last and critical opportunities to correct importantly balancing the scale. These departments will be eliminated. What is your organization doing to get congress to save these agencies. That has done all the work over the past 4 years.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is making strategic public investments in American manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy to revitalize the nation’s manufacturing leadership, help drive steady and stable economic growth across the country – and address the climate crisis.

The President’s approach revives a powerful tradition of public investment which has now positioned the United States to be competitive in key industries of the future. This Government-enabled, private-sector-led approach contributed to the economy defying economist expectations and is crowding in private capital to critical sectors.

New data released this week show that since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, announcements of private sector investments in clean energy and manufacturing in the United States have now surpassed $1 trillion (Figure 1).

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides billions in foundational investments in infrastructure, such as roads, highways, bridges, drinking water and wastewater systems, with $568 billion announced for over 66,000 projects so far.

The CHIPS and Science Act provides $39 billion in grants and other incentives to semiconductor companies to build fabrication plants and produce cutting-edge technology in the United States—of which $34 billion worth of preliminary agreements have been announced.

And the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits, grants, and loans to spur investment and comprehensive deployment of clean energy, including the manufacturing of battery components and critical minerals right here at home.

Core to the Investing in America model is sending clear demand signals, addressing supply-side constraints, and solving coordination problems, all while strengthening and supporting Made in America domestic capacity.

 What at stake:  with the loss of The US Department of Energy Office of Energy Justic and Equity (EJE) Below is a list initiative and programs lunched by this department in 2024. 

2024 Year in Review | Leading Change While Honoring Our Historic Legacy  

Revised YIR 2024

 

2024 Tamia Gordon Headshot_Final

Leading Change While Honoring Our Historic Legacy

This has been a year of growth and change for the Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE). Yet throughout 2024, EJE has also been a beacon of hope, faithfully dedicated to a decades-long goal of providing underserved, low-income communities and families with the ability to take part in America’s energy system by working with colleagues across the Department of Energy (DOE), its National Laboratories, field sites, and the entire federal family.

This past spring, I came aboard as Principal Deputy Director of EJE, joining a team with a legacy almost as old as DOE itself. In 1978, Congress recognized that our energy system was not serving all Americans equitably, with lower income communities more likely to face burdens of pollution, disproportionate costs, and diminished energy service. In response, Congress issued a mandate creating this Office and empowering it to research the extent and causes of those inequities and to advise the Secretary of Energy on the way forward.

Here, I found myself surrounded by a team committed to elevating American communities that have been overburdened, underserved, and left behind with an inability to fully participate in the economic prosperity created by the technological advances within our energy system. Of note, the EJE staff works tirelessly to ensure that all DOE programs and initiatives are accessible to all Americans and fully realize the benefits of the emerging clean energy economy of the 21st century. Their work provides quality jobs, lower pollution, and access to low-cost renewable energy resources that enhance American independence and security. In fact, this year the team’s outstanding efforts have resulted in several noteworthy victories.

Please read on to celebrate EJE’s many accomplishments in 2024. From introducing the Regional Energy Democracy Initiative to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of DOE funding; launching a program connecting university faculty with our National Laboratories; to implementing policies to ensure that the DOE workforce resembles the American population; and hosting our third annual Justice Week event, EJE has been impactful across all of DOE with much more work to be done in 2025.

With Gratitude, Tamia N. Gordon

Director (acting) and Principal Director

Office of Energy Justice and Equity

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Regional Energy Democracy Initiative

EJE announced the Regional Energy Democracy Initiative (REDI) to be piloted in the U.S. Gulf South. Through REDI, and with a committed $5 million, DOE is collaborating with minority-serving institutions, community-based organizations, and public and private partners to provide capacity building and technical assistance for communities in the region to maximize the benefits derived from the clean energy investments made by DOE. The program supports the development of Community Benefits Plans that address the unique needs and priorities of each community, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy projects are distributed equitably and contribute to the overall well-being of the region.

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PR Trip

Resilience Hubs for Puerto Rico

EJE established five Resilience Hubs (“Hubs”) to strengthen community energy resilience for Puerto Rico. Through a cooperative agreement, nearly $1 million of dedicated funding supports community-led development of the Hubs that provide reliable electricity during grid events or climate related disasters. The funding supports the development of renewable energy systems such as solar-plus-storage systems at community-serving facilities that have historically lacked access to reliable electricity and experienced prolonged outages.

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JUSTICE WEEK 2024 WITH SEC GRANHOLM

Justice Week 2024: Equity in Action

EJE hosted attendees both online and in person for its third annual Justice Week held on October 22-24, 2024. Justice Week 2024: Equity in Action focused on spotlighting the specific and intentional actions that DOE is doing to advance energy justice and equity by ensuring that investments in the clean energy transition benefit communities that have historically been left behind.

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Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences

EJE launched the Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences (FACES) Program to provide clean energy research opportunities to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) faculty from Minority-Serving Institutions, including Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The FACES program’s goals are to promote diversity and inclusion in the energy sector and help teachers inspire STEM students to pursue careers in clean energy.

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