Overview

Black frontline communities bear the brunt of our current extractive energy system, facing environmental degradation and health risks. There are also vast opportunities in the new energy economy, and it is critical to create pathways to ensure frontline leadership. Decisions are made about how energy will be produced, consumed, and distributed and Black communities are rarely consulted. This has led to inequitable practices that disadvantage those communities. Mainstream environmentalism has also disregarded the input of these communities, leading to strategies for transitioning into a green economy that do not represent the interests of frontline communities. The leadership of the communities which bear the largest burden and experience the most negative impacts will be key in seeing a just transition to a truly regenerative economy. A just transition is possible. A future where Black frontline communities have affordable, accessible, and clean energy that also benefits them economically is possible, and there are myriad ways that Black communities are already leading in this regard. The Energy Justice program unveils this reality, offering strategies to transition towards resilient energy systems rooted in Black Liberation, Just Transition frameworks, and democratic energy governance. Participants will be equipped to champion equitable energy solutions that prioritize community well-being and sustainability.

Course Objectives 

• Examine key frameworks, definitions, and history of the energy justice movement globally and in the United States. 
• Understand the existing disparities in energy justice contexts, and opportunities to advance equity for disproportionately impacted communities. 
• Review key governance and policy initiatives that shape energy use, resources, equity, health, and related outcomes. 
• Examine the infrastructures that define the availability and use of energy. 
• Identify critical areas for community engagement and build networks of collaborators to advance energy justice. 
• Establish a racially justice energy action plan.