Event

Environmental Justice & Transmission Development

ACEG & The State Impact Center Present: Environmental Justice & Electric Transmission Development. Wednesday, May 31, 1pm ET, on Zoom. 

The logos of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) and the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center, and headshots of the following speakers: Montina Cole (Jair Green Consulting), Kristen Golden (Grid United), Jasmine Jennings (We Act for Environmental Justice), Mo-Yain Tham (Jobs to Move America), and moderator Christine Powell (Earthjustice).
  • Wednesday, May 31, 2023
  • 1:00pm
  • Online Event

The U.S. urgently needs to expand its electric transmission system, but how can we build out the grid in an equitable way?

Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) and the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center hosted a webinar to answer this question by exploring environmental justice considerations in transmission development.

Historically, the U.S. has constructed infrastructure in a manner that disproportionately harms low-income communities and people of color. These groups are more likely to live near sources of pollution and experience harmful health consequences linked to that exposure.

An expanded network of high-capacity transmission lines will have many benefits, such as: allowing new clean energy resources to connect to the grid (replacing aging and high-emission resources), lowering household power costs, and improving electric reliability during extreme storms. But these transmission lines can span hundreds of miles and will pass through communities, so it’s important that they be constructed with equity principles in mind. Our panel explored how developers can undertake meaningful local engagement at all stages of the process, including transparent and collaborative route selection, the development of community benefit funds, and other innovative ways to ensure that those impacted by a transmission project also benefit from it.

Featured Speakers

  • Montina Cole — Jai Green Consulting
  • Kristen Golden — Grid United
  • Jasmine Jennings — WE ACT for Environmental Justice
  • Mo-Yain Tham — Jobs to Move America
  • Moderated by Christine Powell — Earthjustice