Climate change has been a long-standing global issue, and following Wednesday’s vice presidential debate, it’s clear the world needs more direction and initiatives focused on cleaning up the planet.

In an effort to make changes on HBCU campuses across the country, the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (HBCU-CDAC) — a nonprofit HBCU advocacy group — founded a Clean Energy Initiative to implement sustainable solutions for historically Black colleges in America.

According to Black Enterprise, the initiative was created with the help of a grant previously received from the National JPB Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting initiatives toward medical research, sustainability, and empowering those living in poverty.

“With the JPB Foundation’s increasing their support for our Clean Energy Initiative, we will deliver more residential installations and increase awareness in underserved communities around the country,” said Ron Butler, CEO of the HBCU-CDAC in a press statement. “Low-income homeowners will benefit directly from lower utility bills. This is why we do this work—to bring economic benefits to communities where HBCUs are located. I am delighted that JPB sees the value of our work and is willing to continue investing in our efforts to transform these communities.”

Black Enterprise also reports that the foundation awarded HBCU-CDAC’s Clean Energy Initiative a $700,000 grant last month to help expand their sustainability efforts toward solar installations for moderate-income families and homeowners across America.

According to Black Enterprise, the HBCU-CDAC’s clean energy initiative will continue to focus on advancing commercial solar development while also creating more energy-related job opportunities within HBCU communities.

Additionally, the HBCU-CDAC also plans to partner with the U.S Department of Energy and the National Association of State Energy Officers on a joint workforce diversity research initiative to create more resources in places like Charlotte, North Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

For more information about the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition and its sustainable initiative, click here.

HBCU Community Development Action Coalition

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