Major EJ initiative launched for clean energy and pollution cleanup in underserved communities

The Biden administration has announced a $2 billion program for pollution cleanup and clean energy development in disadvantaged communities, marking a significant step in pushing forward its environmental justice goals.

-- Matthew Daily reports for the Associated PressAssociated Press.

In short:

• $2 billion allocated for environmental justice initiatives.
• The funding addresses pollution cleanup and clean energy in disadvantaged areas.
• The initiative is part of a major climate law signed by Biden in 2022.

Key quote:

“[This program] has the promise to turn disadvantaged and overburdened areas into healthy, resilient and thriving communities for current and future generations.”

— Michael Regan, EPA Administrator

Why this matters:

This program represents a major new source of funding to address environmental inequalities and promoting sustainable development in historically marginalized communities. It's a critical component of the president's climate change strategy, providing support for overlapping needs like pollution mitigation, energy security, public transportation, access to renewable energy and climate resilience.

EHN recently reported on how language barriers can exacerbate environmental injustice.

What role can community organizations play in effective use of these grants for environmental transformation and ensuring inclusion of all community members in decision-making?

AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight and editing.