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A Message From Leadership
Spring has sprung. Temperatures are warming, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE) is planting seeds of energy democracy and justice that communities can harvest for generations to come.
In the first three months of 2024, EJE is proud to share some key accomplishments that we believe will fundamentally alter how the Department of Energy (DOE) approaches our clean energy transition.
In February, DOE released its second Equity Action Plan (EAP), a roadmap for a more equitable and sustainable future that makes environmental justice and inclusivity a priority. Dozens of leaders from EJE and other DOE offices workshopped strategies to guide the Department’s work, such as providing new entrants and disadvantaged businesses with more access to procurement opportunities and integrating justice considerations into R&D programs. Other key strategies included establishing a DOE-wide Community Benefits Plan framework, updating the Merit Review program to facilitate equitable outcomes, and developing an agency-wide framework to work with Tribal and marginalized communities. The plan’s release also served as an opportunity to reflect on the successes of the inaugural EAP, which included landmarks in promoting gender equity and equality, workforce diversity and inclusion, and LGBTQ+ rights advocacy.
Just weeks ago, DOE launched the Regional Energy Democracy Initiative (REDI) committing to ensure communities have an opportunity to shape the benefits they receive from the historic levels of clean energy investments. We are excited to pilot REDI in the Gulf South, a region that is home to a high concentration of fossil fuel-based energy projects. REDI will fund local consortia to support local communities in aligning their needs and priorities with potential benefits from future clean energy investments, ensuring the full impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act investments is successfully delivered. The consortia will be comprised of minority serving institutions, community-based organizations, and public and private partners that will drive economic prosperity and promote energy justice.
Thank you for your hard work and unwavering dedication to the principles of equity and goals of energy justice. Enjoy the spring weather and we’ll be back in your inbox very soon!
Director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity and Secretarial Advisor on Equity
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Stories, Music, and Reflection: DOE’s Celebration of Women’s History Month
Washington, DC – Women’s History Month marks time for reflection and celebration of the accomplishments and triumphs of women throughout centuries past, The Department of Energy’s (DOE) observance also considered the contributions still to come. On March 26, hundreds of DOE employees and contractors attended, in person and online, the 2024 event celebrating “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” recognizing women who have worked to create a more just society.
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U.S. Department of Energy Celebrates Black History Month Through Art and Expression
The Department of Energy (DOE) celebrated Black History Month through spirited music, vibrant paintings, powerful performances, and strength of community. On February 27, DOE employees and contractors gathered both in person and virtually for a celebratory event focused on this year's Black History month theme, "African Americans and the Arts." The event honored the legacy and cultural influence of Black and African American artists in US history, as well as speaking of the inspiration that can be applied to reshaping America’s energy sector.
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 On March 3rd, Director Shalanda Baker joined Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
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Join our next Second Chance Hiring in Energy event on April 11 at 12pm EST. This is part of an ongoing online series that aims to advance the 2nd Chance Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Persons initiative from the Biden Administration.
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Please join ORISE as they share valuable information about the upcoming 2024 Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program (MEISSP). Mentors, coordinators and interested program offices and national laboratories will receive information on how to participate in the program, cost per student, student participation options (in person vs. hybrid), and a host of other pertinent information.
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Mark your calendars for September 2024 for our DOE to the People event. This year the Office of Energy Justice and Equity is partnering with Hampton University, with details forthcoming.
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In February 2024, 15 distinguished Department of Energy employees were presented with the Secretary of Energy Excellence Award. The Secretary of Energy’s Excellence Award is bestowed on individuals with a singular accomplishment that demonstrates a high level of performance and outstanding leadership in public service. The individual’s overall achievement must be substantial, outside the normal course of duty, and significantly benefit the Department’s mission and our nation.
EJE’s Chief of Staff, Samantha Ruiz, was one of 15 recipients recognized with a Secretary of Energy Excellence Award from DOE Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm last month. One of the highest honors within the DOE, these awards are granted to DOE federal and contractor employees for work that goes beyond expectations and creates a positive, lasting impact. Read Full Story Here
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U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David M. Turk presented the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award to the Energy Justice to the People Road Show staff from EJE. The virtual event highlighted the work of 53 teams across the DOE Complex whose contributions have had a marked impact on both the DOE and our nation.
Congratulations to Leslie Aguilar, Yesina Carillo, Kelly Crawford, Rebecca Feuerlicht, Author Gallow, Jamie Gomez, Chris Gunn, Marjorie Harris, Veronica Jackson, Anjuli Jain-Figueroa, Sonrisa Lucero, Colleen McLean, Nacole Morton, Gabriela Rodriguez, Monika Roy, Samantha Ruiz, Sharonda Tack, Lynn Villafuerte, Sara Wylie, and Yasmin Yacoby.
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U.S. Department of Energy News
DOE Awards $5 Million to Minority Serving Institutions in Support of Clean Energy Education and Workforce Development Programs
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and MSI STEM R&D Consortium announced $5 million in funding for two minority-serving universities to support the development of programs that will equip students with the skills needed to succeed in clean energy careers. The funding was administered by the Integrated Strategies Office within DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
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U.S. Department of Energy Announces First Round of Community Energy Innovation Prize Winners for the Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 23 teams have won the CONCEPT Phase of the American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize in the Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks. Each team has been awarded $100,000 in prize money and will receive in-kind mentorship and other support services throughout the subsequent prize phases.
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DOE Awards $24.7 Million Financial Assistance Grants to Seven Minority Serving Institutions Across the Country | Department of Energy
Cincinnati – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded seven competitive financial assistance grant awards to the minority serving institutions (MSI) shown below, as a result of its Office of Environmental Management (EM) Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002820.
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Biden-Harris Administration Launches Clean Energy Connector to Bring Nearly $15 Million in Annual Energy Savings to Up to 40,000 Low-Income Households
The Biden-Harris Administration, through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), launched the pilot of the Clean Energy Connector, a tool that connects families to solar energy through HHS’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The first-of-its-kind software can now be used by local LIHEAP program administrators in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and New Mexico to connect community solar subscriptions to as many as 40,000 households with low incomes.
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Statement by Secretary Granholm on the President's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
The Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Following historic progress made since the President took office—with nearly 15 million jobs created and inflation down two-thirds—the Budget protects and builds on this progress by lowering costs for working families, protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare, investing in America and the American people, and reducing the deficit by cracking down on fraud, cutting wasteful spending, and making the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $90 Million to Improve Building Efficiency, Increase Resilience, and Lower Costs for American Families and Businesses
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $90 million in funding to support building energy code adoption, training, and technical assistance at the state and local level. The funding, which is the second installment in a $225 million program established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, continues historic investment into state agencies, communities, and programs to successfully implement modern building codes.
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Director Shalanda Baker Returns to Mexico to Share Knowledge, Exchange Experiences, and Collaborate in the name of Energy Justice and Equity
Justice is a global issue. While most of the work done in the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) focuses on domestic issues, for one week, the global fight for justice took center stage in Mexico.
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