Historically marginalized communities, including low-income communities and communities of color, are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. These same communities have endured decades of environmental injustice and economic disinvestment. Recognizing the structural inequalities and climate action disparities that continue to exist, CEG’s technical assistance prioritizes access to solar and energy storage technologies to those most impacted by climate change and the negative impacts of the fossil fuel industry, including projects led by Indigenous, Black, and Latine people, and Asian Americans.

In 2024, 58 percent of Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) participants were organizations led by Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC)- the highest percentage of funding awarded to BIPOC-led organizations since the TAF and RPLI were established in 2014.

CEG asks community partners to self-identify whether they are BIPOC-led in the TAF intake form. Communities can also choose not to answer this question. CEG began collecting this data in 2022.

Equitable access to project development opportunities for engineering partners is equally important. CEG is working to establish new partnerships with local Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) that can conduct feasibility assessments and provide technical analysis. CEG seeks not only to award more funding to BIPOC communities, but also to foster long-term relationships and build local capacity and resilient power expertise within marginalized communities.

This is just one of several steps CEG is taking in its commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.