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Energy Justice

Green is the new black. It's now possible to be hip, stylish, and environmentally friendly. But like the latest fashions, most green innovations and technologies are beyond the reach of low income families—those who, ironically, need them the most.

Household weatherization is a grim example, with some of the worst cases on tribal lands. Currently in Minnesota, many tribal members spend as much as 25 percent of their household incomes on energy. It's a combination of low monthly incomes and deplorable housing conditions—drafty windows, uninsulated walls. Existing assistance programs do not meet the needs of many of these Minnesotans.
 
To illustrate: there are 1,500 houses on Minnesota's Red Lake Indian reservation, and of that number, it's estimated that 70 percent are in need of weatherization. Currently, the Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program provides enough funding to insulate 18 homes a year. At this rate, it would take more than 50 years to meet the current weatherization needs of the Red Lake Nation.
 
Our Work
Fresh Energy advocates for policies to build low income individuals' ability to negotiate changing energy prices, the costs of energy-efficient technologies and innovations, and the effects of global warming. Here's what we're doing to accomplish those efforts...
  • Sharing the Green - We promote policies to guarantee equal access to energy efficiency and conservation technologies, regardless of income level.
  • Setting the Stage for Collaboration - Fresh Energy is developing a forum for reservation housing and weatherization directors to share ideas and information about existing energy efficiency funding sources for tribal buildings, as well as to speak with a unified voice in pursuit of good policy.

Future Directions

  • Fresh Energy will research policy options and strategies that would increase funding for energy efficiency or streamline existing processes to make more funding available.
  • We will promote public policies that will encourage energy efficiency and conservation in low income housing.
  • We will seek incentives or subsidies for energy project opportunities for Native people and communities, such as wind power development on Native lands.
  • We will continue to work with legislators to ensure energy laws do not negatively impact low income communities.