Energy Policy Initiatives Center

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Supporting Energy Justice in EPA Region 9

Supporting Energy Justice in EPA Region 9

Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice (CCEEJ) aims to strengthen community organizations' capacity and effectiveness in applying to, managing, and implementing environmental and energy justice grants and programs. CCEEJ helps community organizations by providing technical assistance. This includes conducting environmental and energy justice needs assessment and analyses, facilitating navigation of government systems, identifying grant opportunities, and increasing grant getting and administration capacity.

As a member of CCEEJ’s Energy Team, EPIC provides technical assistance related to energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Below is a sample of the types of technical assistance provided as part of CCEEJ.
  • Understanding Emissions from a Power Plant in the Community - EPIC worked with an environmental justice organization in the Los Angeles area to identify greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions from a natural gas power plant located in their community. EPIC presented results of the research, provided a template, and trained staff on how to continue collecting data annually.
  • Options for Small Businesses to Reduce Energy and Emissions - EPIC is working with a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) in California’s Bay Area to identify energy measures to help small business owners reduce energy use, switch to electric appliances and equipment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of this project, EPIC is estimating energy and emissions impacts and conducting a benefit-cost analysis for a range of projects. This work supports an application for funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
  • Community Benefits in Energy Projects and Equity Frameworks - EPIC is working with a consortium of community members in Hawaii to provide best practices related to (1) community benefit packages and agreements as part of large energy projects and (2) frameworks used by regulatory agencies to promote energy equity and justice.