The report includes state summaries detailing which of these policies each state has in place. Not surprisingly, many of our southeastern states have the most room to improve, with Alabama and Tennessee at the bottom of the list.

NAACP’s leadership on this topic is pivotal for engaging communities of color in transforming energy policy. We’ve known for years that these communities are more likely to bear the burdens of energy production and use in our region and across the country. This report reinforces the reality that energy equity is a civil rights issue, and disproportionally-affected communities need to be involved in steering new energy policies that drive economic opportunities for all.

As highlighted in the report, “According to a 2010 study by the American Association of Blacks in Energy, while African Americans spent $41 billion on energy in 2009, they only held 1.1% of energy jobs and only gained .01% of the revenue from the energy sector profits.” This inequity has limited progress and adoption of key policies by many of the decision-making bodies across our region.

As we discussed in our past blog posts (here, here and here), energy equity is critical in building a clean energy economy. This report is a welcome challenge to all who are working to improve energy policy in this country and expand cleaner, just energy options. We look forward to expanding work with NAACP and more of their chapters in the region.