Among its other advantages over traditional fossil fuels, solar has the ability to democratize (small “d”) electricity production. Wealthy and poor alike can capture the power of the sun to seize control of their electricity production, if only they have the opportunity to access solar electric installations.
Over the weekend, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) kicked off a campaign in partnership with many solar industry stalwarts to make accessing the solar revolution easier for communities that might not otherwise have the chance to join the solar revolution.
The goal of the program is twofold:
- To expand solar’s access for communities of color and low-income communities, including creating an infrastructure for homes and community centers; and
- To provide job training for communities in need of an economic boost.
Called the “Keeping it Green While Living the Dream”, the coalition has made a year-long commitment to train 100 people, install solar on 20 households and 10 community centers and strengthen laws in at least five states that strengthen equity in solar-access policies. Representatives from the solar industry include GRID Alternatives, Solar Energy Industries Association, Sunrun and Vote Solar.
“Underserved communities cannot be left behind in a clean energy transition,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO . “Clean energy is a fundamental civil right which must be available to all, within the framework of a just transition.”
To celebrate the initiative’s kickoff, the coalition of groups broke ground on a solar installation on The Jenessee Center, a nationally recognized non-profit domestic violence prevention and intervention organization in Los Angeles.
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