In Case You Missed It! DOE Hosted Its First Ever Justice Week

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Economic Impact and Diversity hosted its first ever Justice Week from Monday, September 12, 2022 through Friday, September 16, 2022. The five-day event convened external and internal stakeholders to discuss the Department’s justice and equity efforts and the best path toward a new energy system.

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Justice Week Day 3: Equity in Procurement and Equity Action Plan Townhall
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Justice Week Day 5: Meaningful Community Engagement and the Justice40 Initiative
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Justice Week 2022 Agenda 
View the agenda the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) first ever Justice Week.

Day 1- Monday, September 12 (Internal to DOE, In Person/Virtual): Welcome to Justice Week! Help kick off Justice Week in the DOE Cafeteria with Secretary Granholm and Deputy Secretary Turk as they discuss DOE’s DEIA Strategic Plan! Then, join us for an Employee Resource Group Fair.

Monday, September 12, 2022, 10:00am-1:00pm
Forrestal Cafeteria, Internal to DOE Employees

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

10:00

Opening Remarks and Welcome to Justice Week

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

David M. Turk, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

10:20

Overview of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan

Lady Idos, Deputy Director and Head of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, U.S. Department of Energy

10:50

Next Steps

Lady Idos, Deputy Director and Head of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, U.S. Department of Energy

David M. Turk, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

11:00

Break

 

11:05

Panel: DEIA Promising Practices

This panel will cover what various program offices within the Department have been doing to advance DEIA.

Dameone Ferguson, Supervisory Diversity Manager, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Erin Moore, Chief Human Capital Officer, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Julie Carruthers, Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy

Tiffany Blanchard-Case, Director, Office of Nuclear Materials Removal, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderated by: Lady Idos, Deputy Director and Head of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, U.S. Department of Energy

11:45

Closing Remarks

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

11:50

Welcome to the Employee Resource Group Fair

Charlie Carrasco, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

12:00

Employee Resource Group Fair

Employee Resource Groups:

  • Community for the Advancement of Latinos at the Department of Energy (CALDOE)
  • Professional Opportunities for Women at Energy Realized (POWER)
  • EnergyPride
  • Emerging Professionals Group (EPG)
  • Blacks in Government Energy Chapter (BIG)
  • Persons with Disabilities ERG
  • Native American ERG
  • Asian American Pacific Islander Network (AAPIN)
  • EnergyVet

Keynote Speaker- Monday, September 12 (Internal to DOE, In Person/Virtual): Join BlocPower Founder Donnel Baird for a Keynote Speech, where he will frame the opportunity for investments in communities, with an emphasis on improving community health and ensuring more BIPOC entrepreneurs can be an influential part of our clean energy transition. 

Monday, September 12, 2022, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Forrestal Cafeteria, , Internal to DOE Employees

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

3:00-4:00

Keynote Speech

Donnel Baird, Founder of BlockPower, will frame the opportunity for investments in communities, with an emphasis on improving community health and ensuring more BIPOC entrepreneurs can be an influential part of our clean energy transition. 

Donnel Baird, Founder, BlocPower

Q&A moderated by Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Day 2- Tuesday, September 13 (Internal to DOE, In Person/Virtual): Learn about DOE’s Equity Action Plan and our procurement goals with Deputy Secretary Turk and Director Shalanda Baker at day two of Justice Week in the DOE Cafeteria!

Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 9:00am-12:00pm
Forrestal Cafeteria, Internal to DOE Employees

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

9:00

Opening Remarks

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

David M. Turk, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

9:15

Introduction to the DOE Equity Action Plan

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

9:45

Panel: Embedding Equity into DOE DNA

A conversation about the formation of the BIL FOA template and associated scoring rubric. The panel will share background on the drafting process, the merit review process, and provide tips and tools for submitting and reviewing a Community Benefits Plan.

Kate Gordon, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, U.S.  Department of Energy

Betony Jones, Director, Office of Energy Jobs, U.S.  Department of Energy

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderated by: Chris Gunn, Special Advisor on Grid Innovation and Justice, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

10:30

Break

 

10:40

Office of Environment Management Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program

Nicole Nelson-Jean, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

10:45

Panel: Program Office Successes in Implementing the Equity Action Plan

This panel will look at various program office successes in implementing the Equity Action Plan. The panelists will discuss their office’s biggest achievement in the equity space, and the path they took to get there.

Wahleah Johns, Director, Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Liz Doris, Senior Advisor on Energy Justice, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Harriet Kung, Deputy Director for Science Programs, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderated by: James Strange, Consultant, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

11:45

Closing Remarks

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

EERE Equity Community of Practice Meeting: Latinas in STEM

Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Virtual, Internal to DOE Employees

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

1:00

Latinas in STEM Webinar
The Latinas in STEM Foundation was founded in the summer of 2013 by Latina MIT alumnae who were interested in formalizing the work they were already doing in their respective communities. The founders of Latinas in STEM are first generation American women who were the first in their families to attend college. This group of Latinas know first-hand the many barriers to entry for women in STEM fields. Those barriers are compounded for Latinas due to a lack of role models, lagging outreach, and overall limited parental awareness. Latinas in STEM is a volunteer led and run organization. Members are all employed full-time in industry and pursue this work across the country to fulfill their desire to give back to their community.

Michelle L. Mejia, research scientist at Dow
Separate Registration Required. Please see the Justice Week Powerpedia Page.

Day 3- Wednesday, September 14 (Open to the Public! Virtual Only): Join DOE and external stakeholders as we discuss DOE’s Equity Action Plan and how we can advance racial equity and provide support for underserved communities.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 9:00am-12:30pm
Virtual, Open to the Public

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

9:00

Opening Remarks

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

David M. Turk, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

9:15

Introduction to the DOE Equity Action Plan

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

9:45

Equity Action Plan Townhall

The purpose of this session is to connect with external stakeholders for a “temperature check”. The anticipated outcome is to get feedback about how DOE Stakeholder Engagement efforts can be optimized and how to make the Equity Action Plan is living working plan. 

Toya Bligen, Senior Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Advisor, Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, U.S. Department of Energy

10:45

Panel: Equity in Procurement

This panel will cover best practices in achieving equity in procurement and will dive into a discussion around interagency collaboration and ways to get Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs engaged.

Chad Maisel, Director of Racial and Economic Justice, Domestic Policy Council

Ron Pierce, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Energy

Miguel Estien, Acting National Director, Minority Business Development Agency

Shalaya Morissette, Chief, Minority Business and Workforce Division, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderated by: Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

11:30

Panel: Stakeholder Engagement Roundtable

This panel will be a discussion around diverse entrepreneurship and the role of Minority Serving Institutions in addressing the need for more People of Color in the clean energy sector.

Natasha Campbell, HBCU Clean Energy Coalition

Walter McLeod, Founder and Managing Director of Eco Capitol Companies

Cherie Brooks, President/CEO and Visionary Co-Founder of Power52 Foundation

Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani, Professor, Department of Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies, Morgan State

Moderated by: Kerene Tayloe, Consultant, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

12:15

Closing Remarks

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Day 4- Thursday, September 15 (Internal to DOE, Virtual Only): Come hear about the Justice40 Initiative as we celebrate and discuss our milestones with Director Shalanda Baker, Deputy Director Dr. Tony Reames and special guest Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome.

Thursday, September 15, 2022, 10:00am-3:30pm
Virtual, Internal to DOE Employees

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

10:00

Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Tony Reames, Deputy Director for Energy Justice, Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy

10:05

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Senior Director for Environmental Justice, Council on Environmental Quality

10:30

Panel: White House Justice40 Initiative Implementation

The Department of Energy will hear from the Climate Policy Office, The Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of Management and Budget on the administration’s whole-of-government approach to Justice40. Join in to interact with the panel and learn how DOE’s work fits into the broader government initiative. 

Corey Solow, Deputy Director for Environmental Justice, Council on Environmental Quality

Candace Vahlsing, Associate Director for Climate, Energy, Environment, and Science, Office of Management and Budget

Jahi Wise, Special Assistant to the President for Climate Policy and Finance, White House Climate Policy Office

Moderated by: Dr. Tony Reames, Deputy Director for Energy Justice, Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy

11:10

Break

 

11:15

Panel: Aligning J40 benefits with Program Priorities
This panel will discuss how program offices have incorporated Justice40 priorities as core aspects of their office strategy/program design.

Julie Carruthers, Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Holly Buck, Management and Program Analyst, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Adam Hasz, Project Manager, Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Initiative, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderated by: Michael Reiner, Policy Analyst, Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy

11:55

Closing Remarks

Dr. Tony Reames, Deputy Director for Energy Justice, Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy

12:00

Lunchtime Webinar:  Valuing Social Science and Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Energy Research
This presentation reflects on the state of the energy studies field, and it proposes recommendations for better integrating social science into energy research. Its fundamental argument is that realizing a future energy system that is low-carbon, safe, and reliable will require fuller and more meaningful collaboration between the physical and social sciences.

Dr. Benjamin K. Sovacool is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, with introduction from Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Hosted by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy

1:00

Webinar: Optimizing Equity in Energy Policy Interventions
This webinar will be presenting the model for optimizing equity in energy policy interventions.

Miguel Heleno, Energy/Environmental Policy Research Scientist/Engineer, Lawrence Berkley National Lab

Dr. Anjuli Jain Figueroa, AAAS Science Technology and Policy Fellow, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

1:50

Break

 

1:00

Webinar: Mapping Tools to Identify Underserved Communities

The Justice40 Initiative supports the federal goal that at least 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. For DOE, the potential investment benefits are wide ranging, including but not limited to access to clean energy, cleaner transportation, cleaner air, and access to training for clean energy jobs. For those planning projects with an energy and environmental justice component, identifying disadvantaged communities and working with them on the intended project’s outcomes is critical. With so many mapping tools available, deciding which to use for what purpose can be confusing. Some mapping tools simply identify which areas are disadvantaged according to certain datasets, while others have more features, such as the ability to identify underserved communities with particular characteristics or run project suitability analyses. This webinar will provide overviews of the Energy Justice Mapping Tool, Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map, Energy Zones Mapping Tool, and other federal tools.

Presented by: Vehicle Technologies Office
Margaret Smith, Technology Manager, Vehicle Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Dr. Yan (Joann) Zhou, Principal Analyst and Interim Director of the System Assessment Center, Argonne National Laboratory
Jim Kuiper, Principal Geospatial Engineer, Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory
Separate Registration Required. Please Register Here.

2:00

Community-DOE Collaboration – Communities (LEAP) Local Energy Action Program & Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4E) Program
This panel will discuss how DOE programs can better incorporate justice and communities. Program leads will focus on what they are learning and how they are incorporating those learnings into future program design.

Panelist:
Margaret Smith, Transportation Pathway Lead, Vehicle Technologies Office

Darin Damiani, Carbon Management Pathway Lead, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management

Tessa Grecco, Energy Transitions Initiative Pathway Lead, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Rebecca O’Neil, Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4E) Program Lead, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Moderated by: Dr. Alyse Taylor-Anyikire, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Policy, U.S. Department of Energy

3:00

Closing Remarks

Christopher Davis, Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Energy

3:15

DOE Town Hall

Secretary Granholm

Day 5- Friday, September 16 (Open to the Public! Virtual Only): Join us and Secretary Granholm for the final day of Justice Week as we discuss Justice40 and meaningful community engagement with external stakeholders. Also featuring special guest Xiye Bastida!

Friday, September 16, 2022, 10:00am-3:30pm
Virtual, Open to the Public

TIME (EDT)

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER

10:00

Welcome  

Sonrisa Lucero, Special Advisor on Stakeholder Engagement, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

10:03

Opening Remarks

Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

10:10

Keynote Panel: Meeting the Moment – A Conversation on Energy Justice

Office of Economic Impact and Diversity Director Shalanda H. Baker will lead a conversation with prominent energy justice leaders about, “Meeting the Moment.”  We have a rare constellation of opportunities that are providing unprecedented investments, policy actions and programming that seek to achieve justice for disadvantaged communities as we transform the energy system.  This is not without challenge as not all investments are seen as supportive of this mission and there are systemic inequities to overcome.  In this conversation, hear how these leaders see DOE, disadvantaged communities and the nation overcoming these challenges to capture this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Panelists:
Denise Fairchild, President Emeritus, Emerald Cities Collaborative

Ruth Santiago, Queremos Sol

Dr. Kyle Whyte, George Willis Pack Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

Anne Evans, CEO, Elevate

Moderated by: Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

11:00

Justice40 and BIL, IRA, and DPA: A Constellation of Opportunity

Three major act of legislation and two executive orders have created a “Constellation of Opportunity,” providing billions of dollars to the DOE to significantly invest in slowing the climate crisis and giving clear policy directives to integrate justice into that work, centering frontline communities.  This session will discuss the opportunity the following actions have provided:

  • Executive Order 14008, that mandated the Justice40 Initiative (J40),
  • the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL),
  • the invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate domestic manufacturing of clean energy technology,
  • the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and
  • the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) Act. 

Dr. Tony Reames, Deputy Director for Energy Justice, Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy

Gina Coplon-Newfield, Chief of Staff, Office of Policy, U.S. Department of Energy

11:30 

Justice40 Deep Dive
This round-robin session will explore specific elements of how DOE is implementing Justice40 and how external stakeholders, with special attention to disadvantaged communities, can get engaged.

 

11:30

Justice40 Initiative General Guidance

The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity has issued a General Guidance document for the Justice40 Initiative that explains the basics of how to apply it across all projects and programming.  This session will review the guidance and answer common questions about the initiative.

James Strange, Consultant, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

11:40

Competitive Grants 101: The Basics for How to Apply and Engage

What is an RFI, NOI, FOA, Merit Reviewer, and SAM Number? Why would anyone care?  This session will review the process for applying for funding from the DOE and primary ways to engage the DOE on shaping a project’s design and outcomes.

Jennifer Jacobi, Product Manager, Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy

11:55

Equity in Action: Community Engagement and Competitive Grants

The DOE is working to ensure the communities and stakeholders are engaged in all DOE-funded projects.  This session will review two methods DOE is building into its funding opportunities to ensure those most impacted by a project are involved throughout its lifecycle. 

Kerene Tayloe, Consultant, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

Daryl Wright, Chief Strategy Officer, Emerald Cities Collaborative

12:15

Q&A

Moderated by Sonrisa Lucero

12:30

Lunch/Brunch Break

Music and Slideshow of Highlights and Awardees

1:00 

Keynote Address:
Justice40 Initiative is a significant opportunity to address environmental, climate, energy, and social injustices for historically overburdened and underserved communities around the United States. This keynote address with highlight the importance of engaging communities in the development and implementation of Justice40 to ensure their needs are met and that our energy transition is just. 

Xiye Bastida, Climate Justice Activist, Co-founder of Re-Earth Initiative
Introduction: Shalanda Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

1:20

Q&A with Keynote

Moderated by Sonrisa Lucero

1:30

Engaging Communities for Effective Clean Energy Programming
DOE is engaging with communities to inform near and long-term technology development efforts. Hear about these efforts AND exciting announcements or new awardees and upcoming partnership opportunities.

Alejandro Moreno, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (TBC)

1:40 

Panel: Community-Led Energy Justice Solutions
Community organizations and local governments that are participating in Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) Pilot describe their local clean energy solutions providing community-wide economic and environmental benefits.

Matt Holmes, Environmental Justice Director, Little Manila Rising 

Sumedha Rao, Sustainability Coordinator, Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability, Louisville Metro

Moderator: Carishma Gokhale-Welch, Project Leader and Communities LEAP PI, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

2:35

Facilitated Stretch Break

 

2:40

Getting Ready to Apply: The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers

The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program provides grant funding to eligible applicants to establish technical assistance centers across the nation providing technical assistance, training, and related support to communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners. 

Katrina Pielli, Engagement Office Director, Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of Energy

2:50

State and Community Energy Programs Overview

The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is home to many of the programs that impact where and how we work, live and play.  This overview of programs will highlight many of the DOE funding opportunities will flow to the community level.

Chris Castro, Chief of Staff, Office of State and Community Energy Program, U.S. Department of Energy

3:05

Q&A

Moderated by Sonrisa Lucero

3:20

Closing Remarks

Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

3:30

Webinar Ends