The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its partnership with two communities through the Energy Communities Technical Assistance Pilot program, aimed at supporting community-driven energy transition and economic revitalization goals. EPA Associate Administrator for Policy, Vicki Arroyo, highlighted the importance of programs like the Inflation Reduction Act in providing incentives for low-carbon and renewable energy generation.
According to Arroyo, the Energy Communities pilot is designed to deliver assistance to communities to help bring their vision of diversified economies to fruition. The technical assistance provided will focus on enhancing community planning capacity to address urgent needs related to the energy transition and improve overall quality of life.
One of the recipient communities, Webster County, KY, is looking to leverage resources and partnerships to create new economic opportunities following the closure of a mine in 2019. Steve Henry, Webster County Judge Executive, expressed optimism about the program, stating, "Through the Energy Communities Pilot, we’re hoping to take steps toward giving current residents and future generations reason to stay in Webster County and have choices for a thriving economic future."
The Hopi Tribe, whose economy was previously centered around coal-related operations, is also part of the program. Hopi Tribal Chairman, Timothy Nuvangyaoma, emphasized the Tribe's commitment to rewriting its energy story and using the technical assistance resources to enhance energy sovereignty and improve energy access and reliability. Nuvangyaoma stated, "The program will help the Hopi Utilities Corporation engage our community and partners to spark economic development and environmental and energy security."
The technical assistance provided through the Energy Communities Pilot will include support for workforce development, training, and partnerships between local entities to ensure alignment with the communities' energy transition goals. EPA staff will facilitate workshops and develop a playbook based on the experiences of the recipient communities, aiming to guide other energy communities in their transition planning and implementation.
The collaboration between EPA and these two communities underscores the commitment to supporting localities in their efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources and revitalize their economies.
