Black EOE Journal www.blackeoejournal.com 137
to partner with surrounding residents and local organiza- tions toward the end of the Cold War. Local citizens were aware of the operations going on at the facility but were not a part of the decision-making process, according to Downing, prompting them to organize a community advi- sory project that met with the site manager and senior lead- ers to provide input on decisions being made at the facility. Over time, these efforts expanded into annual work- shops geared toward underrepresented and underserved communities to educate residents about the site and what it does. Teaching Radiation, Energy and Technology - or TREAT - has spent the past 25 years bringing together site managers, experts and engineers with K-12 school teachers and stu- dents, and community members to the Savannah River Site for hands-on demonstrations on storing nuclear waste and lessons on the facilitys operations in easy-to-understand language. The Savannah River Site isnt the only departmental entity working with local citizens. Eight other community- driven Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Boards comprised of a diverse membership partner with the Department to provide public input on the cleanup deci- sions. This public input helps the Department make deci- sions which are cost-effective, community-specific and environmentally sound - leading to faster, safer cleanup.
The Fight for Energy Justice
Even with these strides toward a more equitable energy world, a divide still exists. For example, African Americans have historically had challenges accessing the benefits of solar energy. Communities of color also face unequal access to energy generation and battery storage, which is a concern given the potential for power outages due to the rising number of major weather events caused by climate change. Its not just about helping the country for Baker; its about helping the planet. She sees her position as an opportunity to set a global example for an equitable clean energy transi- tion. Joining the agency will not only allow her to ensure energy justice is an element in all of the Departments day-to-day operations, but she will also be able to use its resources to advance an equitable clean energy future. If I can do that, then I am not only going to help move the needle in a significant way in the United States, but I'll be able to do it in an extraordinary way, internationally, she continued. Theres so much potential for global impact.
Source: Energy.gov
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