community
Newsletter
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Indigenous communities leverage clean energy projects for their benefit
Indigenous communities, once sidelined in renewable energy projects, are now finding ways to actively benefit from these initiatives through strategic partnerships and government policies.
In short:
- Indigenous communities in Canada are increasingly involved in renewable energy projects due to supportive policies like Ontario’s feed-in tariff program.
- Barriers such as limited access to capital and insufficient community capacity still pose challenges to broader participation.
- Successful Indigenous-led projects, like the microhydropower systems in Malaysia, demonstrate the potential for sustainable and equitable energy development.
Key quote:
“As Indigenous Peoples, we recognize and support the global shift towards renewable energy. But it can’t happen at the expense of Indigenous people. Right now, we are going towards a new type of ‘clean’ colonialism.”
— Joan Carling, executive director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International
Why this matters:
Indigenous participation in renewable energy projects promotes environmental sustainability and supports their economic empowerment and preservation of cultural heritage. This empowerment also fosters greater respect for Indigenous knowledge and practices, which are often deeply aligned with principles of environmental stewardship.
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Pipeline project and environmental group forge unprecedented agreement
A carbon dioxide pipeline developer and an environmental organization have reached a unique agreement to ensure community benefits and project support.
In short:
- The developer, Tallgrass, and environmental group Bold Alliance have agreed on community benefits for a CO2 pipeline project crossing Nebraska.
- The agreement includes funding for first responder training, donations to local nonprofits, and yearly royalty options for landowners.
- This agreement sets a new standard for future energy infrastructure projects, emphasizing community engagement and benefits.
Key quote:
"This agreement is exactly what all communities should have. Real money is being left behind in these communities."
— Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Alliance
Why this matters:
By demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, pipeline developers can build positive relationships with local stakeholders, mitigate risks, and create shared value for both the company and the community. This collaborative approach not only leads to better outcomes for all parties involved but also contributes to building healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come.
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Greece embraces energy democracy with citizen-driven renewable energy
Greek citizens are increasingly generating their own renewable energy, despite challenges like limited grid space.
In short:
- Hyperion, Athens' first democratic renewable-energy community, mirrors Germany's energy cooperatives.
- Greece's high solar potential is driving a shift towards renewable energy, with a significant increase in wind and solar power generation.
- Energy communities in Greece aim to democratize the energy sector and contribute to social justice by supporting low-income households.
Key quote:
"We're taking things into our own hands, producing our own energy, democratizing the energy sector and speeding up the transition in a societally fair and participatory way."
— Takis Grigoriou, co-founder of Hyperion.
Why this matters:
The rise of energy communities in Greece represents a grassroots movement toward sustainable energy, highlighting the role of citizen participation in combating climate change and promoting energy independence.
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Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
How a billionaire’s plot to escape climate change fuels ‘Yours for the Taking’
Gabrielle Korn’s dystopian novel explores so-called ‘empowerment’ in a deteriorating world. But, she stresses, it’s funny, too.
Photo by Compare Fibre on Unsplash
Climate change is hurting our mental health. How ‘climate cafes' can help
Similar to grief circles or other types of peer-support groups, these informal gatherings help people work through the emotional distress of living in a climate emergency.
Photo by Joice Kelly on Unsplash
Feeling anxious about climate change? Check out these strategies
The power of embracing despair, building community, and fostering emotional strength in the face of climate challenges.
A Mississippi community takes on a U.K. energy giant over pollution concerns
Drax Group has been the subject of yearslong efforts by local residents, environmentalists and state regulators to rein in emissions from its Gloster wood pellet plant. Some are running out of patience, reports Nidhi Sharma for NBC News.
In a nutshell:
Residents of Gloster, a majority-Black community in southwest Mississippi, are engaged in an ongoing battle against Drax Group, a U.K.-based energy company operating a wood pellet production plant in the town. The residents' concerns revolve around deteriorating air quality and health issues, prompting demands for action. Drax's facility is part of the wood pellet manufacturing hub in the South, which supplies biomass fuels to European countries, even as the biomass industry faces increasing scrutiny for its potential contribution to carbon emissions.
Key quotes:
“They claim to be the good guys, but the industry is one of the most polluting and most damaging to the environment and to communities,” Robert Musil, president and CEO of the Rachel Carson Council said.
The big picture:
Wood pellet production can result in adverse health impacts by emitting hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds during the manufacturing process. These pollutants, which include chemicals with carcinogenic properties and those that can damage vital organs, can be inhaled by those living in nearby communities, leading to respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, and other adverse health effects.
Read the article at NBC News.
In 2020, Danielle Purifoy wrote that the expanding wood pellet market in the Southeast has fallen short of climate and job goals—instead bringing air pollution, noise and reduced biodiversity in majority Black communities.
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