Juneteenth Reflections: Advocating for True Energy Equity

By: Rose McKinney-James, managing principal of Energy Works LLC and McKinney-James & Associates, and board member of Clean Energy for America

Like so many African Americans, I look forward to celebrating Juneteenth each year as a time of  reflection. Michigan historian Mitch Kachun suggests that it is a time to celebrate, educate and agitate. I would add that it provides a unique opportunity to include “advocate”. In particular, I’m compelled to focus on the years I’ve invested in promoting and advocating for clean energy as an essential element of mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

While many enjoy the benefits embedded in the impressive achievements in advancing clean energy, significant swaths of society have yet to be fully apprised of the benefits and barriers to full access to clean energy. Today we remain obligated to insure that all communities enjoy the benefits of this movement. 

Historically, communities of color have been required to endure the  most severe and negative environmental and health impacts of climate change. Juneteenth reminds us that our past informs our future. 

I believe that we must remain vigilant and continue our work to overcome systemic barriers and to expand and elevate the range of voices supporting the clean energy transition. To be fully inclusive we must drive efforts designed  to advance deeper community engagement and participation in crafting key strategies to continue the fight for equity and justice.

We can achieve this by continuing to build and sustain diverse and inclusive coalitions working collaboratively toward common goals. A commitment to authentic inclusion will allow everyone to  achieve the realization of this promise.