ICYMI: STATE, NATIONAL CLIMATE LEADERS JOIN RISE LIGHT & POWER FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE FORUM DURING CLIMATE WEEK

QUEENS, NY (10/02/2024) (readMedia)-- Last week, Rise Light & Power joined WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the NAACP-NYCHA Branch, Foley Hoag LLP, and City & State NY to co-host the 2nd Annual Climate Justice Forum: Building The Green Energy Future With Frontline Communities. This year's event featured state and national energy officials, local elected leaders, environmental advocates, members of UWUA Local 1-2, and community activists for an afternoon of panels dedicated to understanding how industry, labor, climate groups and local governments can shape New York's clean energy future while prioritizing the frontline communities most affected.

View images of the event here.

"Achieving New York's nation-leading climate goals requires collaboration among industry, advocates, governments and communities to ensure the transition to clean energy is reliable, affordable and just," said Clint Plummer, Chief Executive Officer of Rise Light & Power. "Rise Light & Power is proud to co-host the Climate Justice Forum alongside our great community partners, and we are grateful to all of the climate leaders who joined us last week for sharing their knowledge about how we can deliver an environmental justice victory that protects local union jobs, helps lower the cost of clean energy, and protects the communities most impacted.

Panelists at the event highlighted environmental justice success stories, discussed new breakthroughs for delivering climate victories, and shared information about successful climate organizing efforts. Attendees at the event included National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, Former DEC Chair Basil Seggos, NY State Senator Jessica Ramos, NYC Council Member Julie Won, NYC Mayor's Office of Environmental Justice, WE ACT co-founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard, NYCHA NAACP Branch President Lynn Spivey, members of UWUA Local 1-2, and others.

"Climate change does not impact everyone equally. As we transition to an economy that's fueled by clean, renewable energy, those who have historically suffered the most from that economy deserve the opportunity to benefit from the increased investment, development of community infrastructure, and the remediation of environmental harms. That's what we mean by an equitable, just transition," said Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

"As the President of the NYCHA Branch of the NAACP, we are honored to co-host the Second Annual Climate Justice Forum alongside Rise Light & Power, We-Act for Environmental Justice, and other dedicated climate leaders. This forum is a powerful opportunity to amplify the voices of frontline communities like ours, who are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice. Together, we are forging a path toward a more equitable and sustainable future, ensuring that all New Yorkers, especially those in public housing, have a seat at the table in the fight against climate change," said Lynn Spivey, President, NAACP NYCHA Branch.

"It's really important for us to recognize that everyone is watching what we are doing. They're taking our cues. They are interested in the stories of success. So, tell that story effectively," said Basil Seggos, Partner & Senior Policy Director, Foley Hoag LLP & Former Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. "Rise Light and power is doing something that, historically, utilities did not do. They engaged. Create stakeholder frameworks, create positive change through meaningful, authentic relationships. And provide that vision, which is community based, to the people of the City and State of New York. That's something we can be proud of. And I'm glad that we're shouting from the rooftops, and I hope that other industries see what's going on here and that serves as inspiration for years to come.

"If we build the clean energy solutions we need, we have an opportunity to tap into something bigger. A sense of hopefulness that is earned, and a chance not just to reduce emissions, but to do the work of repair and deliver justice to communities who have seen it pass by for decades and generations," said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.

"As someone who was born, raised, and is raising two boys in a frontline climate community, I intimately feel the urgency of the climate crisis. Projects like Renewable Ravenswood are poised to become a model for placing working families and organized labor at the front of the just transition to a union, climate economy," said State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. "I'm proud to have championed record funding in pre-apprenticeship and workforce development funding to prepare Queens for the jobs of the future, now we just need to get shovels in the ground."

"Queens is at the forefront of New York's clean energy revolution and stands to see significant investment in renewable energy. But a truly equitable future will require us to learn from the past and avoid the mistakes that allowed for uneven development across our city," said New York City Council Member Julie Won. "I'm proud to stand with our neighbors at Rise Light & Power and the many other advocates who are committed to delivering an environmental justice victory that benefits the entire western Queens community."

"Union jobs helped create New York's modern energy infrastructure, and they'll be just as essential to bringing the next generation of clean, green energy to our city. But keeping those jobs and protecting our union workers will require real commitment and partnership with industry and local governments. We were proud to speak at this year's Climate Justice Forum about how unions can ensure workers are properly trained and prepared for the emerging clean energy sector, and look forward to working with Rise Light & Power to deliver on a greener future for all of New York City," said Frank Morales, Senior Agent, Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), Local 1-2.

"I was proud to take part in this important forum to help highlight the need to end the days of asthma alley in our community and move towards a greener, more sustainable future for our community as Renewable Row." said Costa Constantinides, Former New York City Council Member & CEO of Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens. "Renewable Ravenswood has the opportunity to help break these cycles of environmental injustice by transforming the largest NYS power plant into a first class renewable energy hub creating jobs and investments in our neighborhood."

"I was honored to take part in this essential, inspiring forum on the central issue of our time: how to achieve a just transition in the face of the climate crisis," said NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. "As New York City continues its world-leading work to reduce emissions from buildings, transportation, and food, we are putting people first by growing green economy jobs, creating coastal resiliency projects that enhance and improve open space, increasing tree canopy to protect New Yorkers from extreme heat, and engaging with environmental justice communities to co-create climate infrastructure and social resiliency. We are proud to have released New York City's first-ever environmental justice report and mapping tool and are excited to move our EJ work forward in cooperation with our Environmental Justice Advisory Board."

"Congratulations to City & State NY, Rise Light and Power, the NAACP, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice for putting on a terrific Climate Justice Forum, which in its second year has already become a premier Climate Week event. We were proud to have Senior VP Josh Klainberg showcase the League's work using data to advance a Just Transition and I was honored to introduce the forum's keynote speaker – and NYLCV 2024 Environmental Champion – Basil Seggos," said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

"As our climate crisis grows more harmful and urgent each day, ALIGN is proud to work with partners across community, labor, and industry to build a just path to a healthy, resilient New York. Thanks to Rise Light and Power and our fellow climate warriors at WE ACT for creating a space where we can learn from our peers and inspire hope in our climate future," said Theodore A. Moore, Executive Director of ALIGN and moderator of the Climate Organizing in NYC panel.

"NYCEDC was delighted to participate in the second Annual Climate Justice Forum to discuss our work in New York City's growing climate related industries in partnership with frontline communities from Sunset Park to Hunts Point. The scale and breadth of participants was a testament to the deep collaborations underway to ensure we deliver on a green economy that becomes the anchor of a prosperous, equitable and just future for New Yorkers," said Nse Esema, Senior Vice President, Green Economy at New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

"South Bronx Unite was pleased to join this important Climate Week event to speak about the enduring harms of discriminatory public policies that essentially turned communities like the South Bronx into pollution epicenters and sacrifice zones, as well as about our campaigns to advance environmental justice and an equitable and just energy transition," said Arif Ullah, Executive Director at South Bronx Unite.

"Building an equitable clean energy future requires that the voices of the communities most impacted by climate change be front and center. The Climate Justice Forum allowed us to ensure that environmental justice is not just a talking point but a priority in the decisions and investments shaping New York's energy transition. Collaborating with industry, government, and community leaders is the only way we will be able to achieve New York's climate goals while creating meaningful benefits for historically disinvested communities," said Daphany Rose Sanchez, Executive Director, Kinetic Communities Consulting.

"Effective governance for New York City and State requires leaders to seriously understand, address, and implement environmental justice policy, particularly for our most vulnerable New Yorkers. We're grateful to City & State Magazine and Rise, Light, & Power for hosting deeply thoughtful conversations at the Climate Justice Forum and hope to continue participating in important convenings like this," said Shiv Soin, Co-Executive Director of TREEage & Youth Lead at TED Countdown.

"Community Capacity Development (CCD) is an Human and Healing Justice Organization whose mission is centered around uplifting marginalized communities and removing the barriers that hinder their progress. We understand that the environment plays a crucial role in shaping individuals and communities. A healthy environment is essential to the human development of person, and as we work towards achieving Human Justice, we must also acknowledge the intersectionality between climate injustice, environmental racism, and community health. We believe that to advocate for true justice, we must reimagine how we address these interconnected issues. Being part of this forum was a step in that direction, and we look forward to continued collaboration," said Demetrius Similien, Operations Director, Community Capacity Development.

Since 2020, Rise Light & Power has been working to redevelop New York City's?largest power generating facility, the Ravenswood Generating Station, into a new clean energy hub. Rise Light & Power's vision of a Renewable Ravenswood is poised to become one of the most significant environmental justice projects in New York, delivering clean energy, jobs, and repurposing fossil infrastructure to support the clean energy transition.

The proposed project would support New York State's goal of delivering 9,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind by 2035 as required by the New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which was passed in 2019, while ensuring that the communities most affected by the project are included in the vision.