New Web site Helps Folks Have A Voice In Power Choices That Have an effect on Their Lives & Communities

Washington, D.C. — Environmental Protection Fund and Blacks in Inexperienced have launched a brand new web site that can assist folks across the nation get entangled in selections about power for his or her communities.

The web site, Neighborhood Voices in Power, provides folks instruments to take part in power resolution making to allow them to shield their well being, atmosphere and cash. These instruments work with different planks of the companions’ Marketing campaign To Finish Power Poverty, which is designed to assist make power extra reasonably priced for all. The American normal is that mild and warmth value about six p.c of family revenue, however some low-income and frontline communities pay 20 p.c or extra.

“Everybody ought to have a voice in creating our clear power future and financial participation in the advantages. For that to occur, they want the power to assist form selections concerning the power methods they depend on,” mentioned Naomi Davis, founder and CEO of Blacks in Inexperienced and organizer of the marketing campaign. “Our web site is designed to assist demystify the processes utilized by public utilities commissions and provides folks the instruments they should overcome participation hurdles.”

The power sector is likely one of the largest sources of local weather air pollution within the U.S., but few folks know get entangled and affect the choices public utility regulators make to manipulate gasoline and electrical firms.

Low-income and frontline communities typically face extra penalties from power selections than anybody else. Communities positioned close to polluting energy vegetation endure from larger than common charges bronchial asthma and different lung ailments, decrease property values, and worse air high quality. On the similar time, utilities have traditionally invested extra in wealthier neighborhoods — so low-income communities can face extra blackouts, slower repairs and fewer dependable service even whereas paying excessive and rising power charges.

Neighborhood Voices in Power offers sources to assist folks study power points of their space, a toolkit to assist them get entangled, and coaching to assist them present professional testimony that brings group pursuits into public utility hearings.

“A extra simply and equitable power system is inside attain, mentioned Christie Hicks, EDF Senior Director for Equitable Regulatory Options. “When extra folks get entangled within the course of, it’s going to change the data that regulators have — and that can change the best way large selections about power are made. We hope this web site will assist utility regulators make rulings that result in a extra equitable, wholesome and reasonably priced power future for all.”

Discover the web site right here.

One of many world’s main worldwide nonprofit organizations, Environmental Protection Fund (edf.org) creates transformational options to probably the most severe environmental issues. To take action, EDF hyperlinks science, economics, regulation, and revolutionary private-sector partnerships. With greater than 3 million members and workplaces in the US, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and coverage specialists are working in 28 nations to show our options into motion. Join with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund

Courtesy of Environmental Protection Fund & Blacks in Inexperienced.