Model and Strategy
We can’t leave behind the communities who powered this country for generations if we hope to create a sustainable, equitable future for all. If we can show affected workers and communities that a bright economic future is possible beyond fossil fuels, we can build durable public support for climate policy.
The Just Transition Fund is on a mission to create inclusive, people-powered economic opportunity in frontline communities disproportionately affected by coal closures. We work to accelerate an equitable, just economic transition by:
Awarding grants to scale effective clean energy models. We support leaders like Tony Skrelunas, who is training entrepreneurs in Navajo Nation to start solar energy businesses.
Providing resources to strengthen frontline community climate and economic leadership. Initiatives like our National Economic Transition (NET) platform influence the national narrative on transition.
Helping marginalized communities plan for a low-carbon resilient future. Our transition planning team guides communities plan post closures. We help create tangible, inclusive economic roadmaps, where those most affected by the problem are developing their own solutions.
Impact
We have the opportunity to help create a robust, national program for communities in transition and potentially drive billions of federal investment to at-risk communities.
If successful, we’ll see improved local economic conditions and create new opportunities for the people on the frontlines of the energy transition. In thriving local economies, affected workers will see increased and broadly-shared economic prosperity. And transitioning communities—once dependent on a coal mono-economy—will see the positive benefits of clean energy for the first time.
We’ll meet community and worker needs, create local wealth for the people most-affected, and build toward long-term equitable economic opportunity. We measure our impact by looking at jobs and small businesses created; workers and entrepreneurs trained; poverty levels improved; and local economic input increased. All to the benefit of low-income, BIPOC people and workers suffering economic distress in these places.
With our focus on inclusive, locally-led solutions, in the next two years we’ll help:
- Develop 1,000 MW of renewable energy in coal communities
- Create 10 comprehensive energy transition funds in affected coal states
- Advance our NET Initiative to ensure stronger federal climate policy
- Support 30 frontline communities to develop equitable, energy transition plans
- Expand broadband access to 10,000 WV homes
This will build on our strong track record. Since 2015, we’ve awarded $8M in grants that created more than 2,000 jobs, trained over 6,500 workers and entrepreneurs, leveraged $100M in public sector investment, and helped families save $22M in energy costs.
With Battery Powered’s help, we can pull forward economic, equity, and climate-focused results—a decade or more of work—in just a couple of years.
Leadership
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Heidi Binko
Executive Director