The National Urban League will soon release another White Paper on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the energy sector. The National Urban League has long been an advocate for economic opportunity, DE&I, and environmental justice. The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once in a generation investment in the American people and their futures. It will provide $1.2 trillion in historic investments in our nation’s core infrastructure and economic commitments to our children, families, and communities to ensure a more equitable economic future for all and will create hundreds of thousands of new high-skilled jobs. Consequently, the Act presents the U.S. with a unique opportunity to modernize this country's power grid and move towards a healthy net-zero carbon environment to avert catastrophic climate change while at the same time promoting DE&I in this nation's important energy sector. The potential environmental, social and economic benefits are tremendous.

The speedy deployment of Electric Vehicles (EV), particularly mass transit and commercial EVs, can provide important environmental and economic benefits. Consequently, it is important to prioritize EV access in underserved communities as such areas can benefit the most from the clean air and cost-saving benefits of EVs. These communities should not be relegated to being passive or potential users of EVs. After all, residents of these communities are more likely to live near busy roads and freight hubs, where exposure to pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and freight is greater. Furthermore, these residents are more likely to be renters and/or live in multi-unit dwellings and not have access to residential charging stations. To achieve this, there are important issues that will need to be addressed over time. They include; 1) workforce development and minority participation as suppliers as well as operators and owners of EV chargers, 2) increasing the number of charging stations to ensure universal deployment including MUDs and public charging, 3) prioritization of transit and commercial EVs, and 4) reasonable rates and proper cost allocation. The National Urban League will continue to bring attention to these issues to ensure all Americans are participating in these historic opportunities.