Dion Richardson, Environmental Justice, Ohio

Dion Richardson is president of Community Dreams Foundation, and he lives in Ohio. He’s been in the industry for 10 years.

Why is clean energy important to you? I believe that not only is it critical for the planet to transition to clean energy but it’s equally important that it is a just translation and does not exclude underserved communities from participating.

What’s your proudest accomplishment in clean energy? My proudest accomplishment is every time I help educate a homeowner on how to convert to clean energy and they realize they are able to keep their home now because they can manage the costs.

What did you do before entering clean energy? Real estate and remodeling.

When were you first introduced to clean energy?Working with a remodeler and was introduced to solar. Once I started to learn how important clean energy and energy storage could be to energy security I turned my focus to the industry.

What is something you wish more people knew about your job? My job has set the tone in our household for our children to ask questions about clean energy and get involved with doing more to conserve energy or educate others.

Why should Congress invest in clean energy jobs, not fossil fuel jobs? Fossil fuels have traditionally hurt marginalized communities while not providing any real economic advantages besides harnessing labor at reduced costs. Clean energy offers an opportunity to reset the way those communities consume energy, increase the quality of life in those areas and power the next generation into a future that’s equitable.