2021 Transformation Report: Moving to Equity - Flipbook - Page 24
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Energy Justice
Energy Justice added as fourth
social justice focus area
Our work will include providing energy assistance,
job training and economic support for communities,
particularly disadvantaged ones.
Energy Justice has been added as a fourth focus area for
Southern Company’s work to advance racial equity and social
justice in the communities we are privileged to serve.
Southern Company, its subsidiaries and their charitable foundations are now committing a combined $225 million through
2025, of which $25 million will be dedicated to energy justice
initiatives. The other three focus areas are education equity,
criminal justice equity and economic empowerment.
By definition, energy justice refers to the goal of achieving
equity in both the social and economic participation in the
energy system, while also remediating any adverse impacts.
Starting in 2022, our committed funding dedicated to energy
justice will be used for energy assistance as well job training
and economic support for communities, particularly as we seek
to decarbonize and ultimately reach a net zero greenhouse gas
emissions future.
Over the past 15 years, as we have made decisions to retire
and/or repower large portions of our coal generating fleet,
we have prioritized education and training opportunities
for impacted employees and worked closely with affected
communities. We remain committed to helping ensure a Just
Transition for these populations in the years ahead.
In addition to placing emphasis on a Just Transition, special focus
will also be given to environmental justice issues, particularly
in disadvantaged communities and in support of policies that
advance energy justice, renewables and sustainable transportation.
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Transformation Report
“We are committed to providing clean,
safe, reliable and affordable energy.
Through our energy justice work, we
will strive to ensure the benefits and
impacts of our business is equitable to
all our customers. The fair treatment
and involvement of our neighbors and
customers is essential to building and
sustaining communities,” said Southern
Company CEO Tom Fanning. “We believe
the communities we serve should be
better off because we are there – a goal that’s bigger than the
bottom line.”
One example of this kind of work includes Nicor Gas announcing
a partnership with The Salvation Army to provide emergency
assistance and homelessness prevention through a new program
called Shield of Caring, which will help customers pay their natural gas utility bills and meet other basic needs.
Nicor Gas contributed $5 million to The Salvation Army, which
will distribute the assistance through its corps community centers and service extension units in 37 Illinois counties. The funding will assist residential customers who are past due on their
natural gas utility bill and report a financial hardship, such as a
job loss, illness, military deployment or disability. The multiyear
partnership is estimated to help more than 25,000 families.
“We believe the communities we
serve should be better off because
we are there – a goal that’s bigger
than the bottom line.”
- Tom Fanning, Southern Company
Chairman, president and CEO
