THE ISSUES
Background
The decisions we make today about energy will impact our children and grandchildren. Those who contribute the least to climate change will be impacted the most. But let us be clear: Climate change does not discriminate. Everyone will be affected. Coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and sewage treatment facilities are often placed in low-income communities, degrading the physical and socio-economic health of the poor. Addressing the threat of climate change presents the opportunity to right many of these wrongs while boosting economic development within historically disadvantaged communities. Transitioning to cleaner energy will help reduce air pollution, protect water supplies, combat climate change, and increase energy independence. We have the opportunity to create a thriving, green economy.
Background
The decisions we make today about energy will impact our children and grandchildren. Those who contribute the least to climate change will be impacted the most. But let us be clear: Climate change does not discriminate. Everyone will be affected. Coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and sewage treatment facilities are often placed in low-income communities, degrading the physical and socio-economic health of the poor. Addressing the threat of climate change presents the opportunity to right many of these wrongs while boosting economic development within historically disadvantaged communities. Transitioning to cleaner energy will help reduce air pollution, protect water supplies, combat climate change, and increase energy independence. We have the opportunity to create a thriving, green economy.
On Justice
Those on the frontlines of climate change include low-income communities, people of color, and children. This includes communities where residents suffer — some have died, while others are chronically ill — due to the disparate impact of air, water, and soil pollution caused by coal-fired power plants and other toxic industrial facilities. From sea level rise to droughts, from increases in temperature to flooding, climate change presents a real and present danger to children, low-income communities, and communities of color.
Vulnerable populations have the least amount of political and social power to affect change needed to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. We must protect these frontline communities from the impacts of climate change. If we do nothing, EJ communities will be among the first to lose their homes to rising sea levels, their health to increased air pollution, and their lives to more extreme weather events. Environmental and climate justice means real solutions and real action are all the more urgent.
Our Issues
Clean Air & Water
Water is Life. Air is Life.
Reliance on fossil fuels for electricity endangers our air and our water, from extraction to generation to disposal. Clean air and clean water are basic necessities — human rights — for people to be able to live healthy lives. Alabama’s leaders (including regulators, elected officials, and business executives) must get serious about addressing the long-term harm our state’s dependence on fossil fuels does to our environment and our health.
Focus Areas: National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Alabama Water Management Plan • Coal Ash • Alabama Ambient Air Monitoring Plans
Clean Energy
Clean energy will revolutionize Alabama.
Solar and wind energy are the fastest growing sources in the electricity sector. It’s time for Alabama to incentive clean, renewable energy like wind and solar for ALL Alabamians. Such policies will not only increase access to sustainable energy tools like rooftop solar and energy efficiency technology, but pro-clean energy policies will reduce greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide and methane by off-setting the amount of dirty fossil fuels burned by Alabama Power and other electric utilities.
Focus Areas: Access to Capital (PACE) • Community Solar • Energy Efficiency • Solar (Dis)Incentives (rate riders)
Jobs & The Economy
Out with the old, in with the new.
We can grow Alabama’s economy and create good-paying jobs by investing in homegrown clean energy and energy efficiency technology. High-paying “green-collar jobs” are not only safer for workers, but they also produce cleaner energy that is better for health and the environment. We must help communities and workers struggling with the decline of the coal industry and ensure these workers are given the opportunity to develop the skills they need to participate in the green economy of the future. This means investing in workforce services and skills training and capacity building to foster economic growth opportunities in coal-impacted communities. Transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas toward clean, efficient energy will help Alabama’s economy grow stronger than ever before, creating a the next generation of jobs and prosperity.
Focus Areas: Just Transition • Solar Jobs Training • Restoring Coal Mines • Brownfields • Recycling
Government Transparency
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Alabamians depend on the Alabama Public Service Commission to make sure the deck isn’t stacked too much against customers in favor of Alabama Power profits, which are some of the highest in the industry for similar investor-owned utilities. Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) — a process that identifies the least-cost energy mix for the utility and its customers — are necessary for customers to understand their energy provider’s plans for the future, especially as it relates to climate change. Unfortunately, the Alabama PSC does not have a robust public review process for Alabama Power’s IRP (only a brief summary is made available to the public). Transparency is an absolute must in order for Alabama to truly address the impact of climate change in a just and equitable way.
Focus Areas: Open Records • Integrated Resource Plan • Environmental Compliance • Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards
Sustainable Agriculture
It’s time to re-think our food systems in Alabama.
Climate change isn’t merely a problem of increasing temperatures. Drought, flooding, extreme weather, and other consequences of climate change will also have a significant effect on the way we produce, distribute, and consume our food. Too many Alabamians live with food security challenges thanks to poverty and so-called “food deserts.” Communities that are already suffering from food insecurity will be disproportionately affected by climate change. We must adapt our agriculture and food systems to meet this urgent demand now before it’s too late.
Focus Areas: Urban Farming • Sustainable Farming • Food Systems • Community Gardens
Infrastructure Resilience
Building a smarter, more sustainable Alabama.
It may be cliché to note that much of our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling, but the reality is that unless we make significant investments in resilient infrastructure today it is only going to get worse. Sea-level rise, heavy downpours, and extreme heat are already doing damage to our systems. We need to implement adaptation plans to ensure that our buildings, utilities, roads, bridges, levees, railroads, airports and other infrastructure aren’t vulnerable to climate change.
Focus Areas: Built Environment • Green Building • Transportation Systems
If you share our Values we want you to be a part of our coalition.
Our Values
Justice isn’t a program; it’s a priority.
Through the lens of justice, we are working to develop a 21st century clean energy economy, to reduce global warming impacts to people and the environment, and to broaden the conversation about clean energy and climate change in Alabama.
We strive to bring together diverse voices dedicated to equity, health, fairness, and transparency. The hope is that together, we can develop some agreed upon actions that we can call on community leaders and elected officials to take to remove barriers to clean energy and increase opportunities for creating jobs and protecting public health and the environment.
Equity
Alabama should provide opportunities to communities that are disproportionately burdened by fossil fuel pollution. Alabama must invest in communities of color and low income to ensure that they are empowered and equipped to tackle the challenges presented by climate change. Everyone deserves the right to self-determination.
Fairness
Alabamians, arguably more than residents of most other states, lack access to power. We need greater public participation in determining public policy — from energy planning to electricity rates to capital investments. A person’s ZIP code, skin color, ethnicity, religion, or political party should not dictate whether or not they have a say in our state’s policies or access to policymakers.
Sustainability
Alabama should use its abundant natural resources and technological expertise to produce 80 percent of our electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar, by 2050. Alabama must incentivize energy efficiency programs so that everyone can access the energy and economic savings of reducing electricity use. In addition, we need to expand access to recycling programs.
Transparency
Alabama needs transparency and public engagement in planning its energy future, including electricity rate information and utilities’ plans about energy sources. All voices, not just paid lobbyists, should have a place at the table to ensure an equitable energy system.