At Fresh Energy, equity is central to our mission of achieving a decarbonized economy that benefits all. Over our nearly 35-year history, equity has shown up in our work in many ways. In 2018, we took an important step by establishing our Energy Access and Equity team to more intentionally center equity in our policy work. We deepened our commitment in 2021 by naming anti-racism as an organizational priority. In 2024, we reached a new milestone with Board approval of Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework, which updates and embeds our Core Values – Courage, Optimism, Responsibility, and Equity — into all that we do.
The update to and adoption of our Core Values and Guiding Principles reflects both our history and our vision for the future:
- Courage to tackle difficult challenges to reach our mission.
- Optimism to know that carbon-neutral economies are achievable.
- Responsibility in knowing that we owe it to ourselves, future generations, and the natural world to act now.
- Equity as both a principle and a practice to collaborate on action to achieve a decarbonized economy that benefits all.
This evolution reflects how we have moved equity from being a program within our work to a value that guides and defines our work. Today, we understand that a carbon-free future is only possible if the benefits and opportunities of the clean energy transition reach all communities. Therefore, we know that equity is central to our mission and our policy impact, and that it must be woven into every part of our organization, our partnerships, and the clean energy transition we are working to advance.
Fresh Energy’s Guiding Principles define equity as:
- Inclusive collaboration: Broadening participation in energy decision-making, listening and responding to impacted communities, and approaching our work with transparency and respect for diverse areas of expertise.
- Equity in access and outcomes: Achieving a decarbonized economy where benefits and burdens are equitably distributed and energy is reliable and affordable for everyone.
- Addressing disparities: Ensuring that new jobs and investment in the energy sector address racial and economic disparities.
- Living our values: Embracing accountability and carefully stewarding the resources entrusted to us, welcoming and supporting a diverse team, and fostering a spirit of community within the organization and beyond.
Through these commitments — and through our continued evolution guided by Courage, Optimism, Responsibility, and Equity — we are working to integrate equity into every aspect of our work: within our own organization, in the communities and organizations we partner with, and across the clean energy transition we are helping to shape.