Sarah Tresedder, sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org, 906-869-4167
Detroit, MI - On Monday, January 31, 2022 at 11:00 AM Detroit activists, environmental advocates, and energy experts will come together to host a virtual press event highlighting energy burden and racial disparity concerns in Detroit. As part of an ongoing campaign to educate the public, connect people with resources, and call attention to what energy burden looks like in Detroit, several billboards have been placed around the city.
High energy costs continue to be a major concern for Detroit families. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: “A quarter of low-income households have an energy burden above 19% in the Detroit metropolitan area, which is five times higher than the median energy burden. There are also significant racial disparities in Detroit related to energy burden. The median energy burden of Black households in Detroit is 54 percent higher than that of non-Hispanic white households.”
This critical issue demands the attention of utility companies and policymakers in order to protect vulnerable communities.
When: Monday, January 31, 11 AM EST
Where: Virtually via Zoom (invite available upon request)
Who:
Alexis Blizman, J.D. Legislative & Policy Director, Ecology Center
Bryan Lewis, Executive Director, EcoWorks Detroit
Michelle Jones, Energy Democracy Program Coordinator, Soulardarity
Sharonda Williams-Tack, Associate Director of the Sierra Club’s Energy Justice Campaign, Healthy Communities
Michael Moody, Special Litigation Division, Michigan Department of Attorney General
What: Environmental and community justice groups will host a virtual press event to advocate for utility companies and governmental leaders to address energy burden and racial disparity in Detroit. The Sierra Club, in collaboration with these groups, placed several PSA-style billboards across the city aimed at connecting people with resources to lower their bills, while making their homes safer and more efficient. The billboards also outline the serious concerns with energy costs for low-income households and predominantly black neighborhoods that have been historically redlined . The groups will also highlight a recent settlement agreement that requires DTE to dramatically increase resources and programs aimed at helping their most energy-burdened customers.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.