Energy Democracy Press Kit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Jaime Jennings, 202-232-7933x44 EMAIL jjennings@islandpress.org CONTACT Katharine Sucher, 202-232-7933x43 EMAIL ksucher@islandpress.org

PRESS RELEASE

Energy Democracy Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions Edited by Denise Fairchild and Al Weinrub “As we transition off fossil fuels, we have a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a fair and democratic economy that works for everyone. In this marvelous collection, you'll hear directly from many of the inspiring leaders who have been theorizing, organizing, and laying the policy groundwork for that leap forward—and you might just be moved to join them.”

— Naomi Klein, author of No Is Not Enough and This Changes Everything “True Energy Democracy places us on a path where all communities, and especially our most vulnerable, have a chance to authentically participate in a holistic process focused on equitable, sustainable, resilient and democratic changes that will benefit those who have often been overlooked, marginalized and forgotten. This exceedingly important book connects the dots, and shares strategies on how we win on climate, how we win on renewable energy, and how we win on empowering vulnerable communities!”

— Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior Vice President, Hip Hop Caucus

Washington, DC (August 31, 2017)—As the current federal government tries to breathe new life into a dying fossil fuel economy, foment racial intolerance, reassert U.S. military dominance, eliminate health and other protections, and otherwise bow to corporate interests, it is a critical time to strengthen and empower our communities. To save the planet—and ourselves—we must find solutions that democratize energy, making it a vital resource for advancing the environmental, economic, and social justice needs of our communities. Confronting racial discrimination and advancing equity is central to developing a sustainable, decentralized energy alternative.

Energy Democracy: Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions (Publication Date: October 12, 2017) is the first book to show what building an alternative, democratized energy future can look like. The near-unanimous consensus among climate scientists is that fossil fuels are having a cataclysmic impact on our atmosphere and climate and depleting earth’s ISLAND PRESS | PRESS RELEASE | 1

natural resources, including its land, food, fresh water, and biodiversity. These impacts are particularly magnified and debilitating for low-income communities and communities of color, which have borne the brunt of the fossil fuel economy; are disproportionately hit by high incidences of asthma, cancer and high rates of morbidity and mortality; and lack the economic resources to build resilience to climate change.

Energy democracy is a way to frame the struggle of working people, low-income communities, and communities of color to take control of energy resources from the energy establishment and use those resources to empower their communities—literally providing energy, economically and politically. Edited by Denise Fairchild and Al Weinrub, leaders in the energy democracy movement, this contributed volume brings together racial, cultural, and generational perspectives to frame the emerging movement. Case studies of approaches to democratizing energy range from rural Mississippi and the South Bronx to Californian immigrant and refugee communities and urban and semi-rural communities in the Northeast.

Featuring a diverse group of cutting-edge activists, Energy Democracy is a powerful volume that will inspire readers across the country to take up the struggle to build the energy democracy movement.

Denise Fairchild is president/CEO of Emerald Cities Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization of business, labor, and community groups dedicated to climate resilience strategies that produce environmental, economic, and equity outcomes. Al Weinrub is coordinator of the Local Clean Energy Alliance (LCEA), the Bay Area's largest clean energy coalition. The LCEA promotes the equitable development and democratization of local renewable energy resources as key to addressing climate change and building sustainable and resilient communities.

Energy Democracy Island Press Paperback Original Publication Date: October 12, 2017 288 pages | 6x9 | Price: $30.00 (P) $29.99 (E) ISBN: 9781610918510 (P) 9781610918527 (E) Book page: https://islandpress.org/book/energy-democracy Founded in 1984, Island Press works to stimulate, shape, and communicate the information that is essential for solving environmental problems. Today, with more than 1,000 titles in print and some 30 new releases each year, it is the nation’s leading publisher of books on environmental issues. Island Press is driving change by moving ideas from the printed page to public discourse and practice. Island Press’s emphasis is, and will continue to be, on transforming objective information into understanding and action. For more information and further updates be sure to visit www.islandpress.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT EMAIL CONTACT EMAIL

Jaime Jennings, 202-232-7933 x44 jjennings@islandpress.org Katharine Sucher, 202-232-7933 x43 ksucher@islandpress.org

PRAISE

ENERGY DEMOCRACY ADVANCING EQUITY IN CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS Edited by Denise Fairchild and Al Weinrub

"As we transition off fossil fuels, we have a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a fair and democratic economy that works for everyone. In this marvelous collection, you'll hear directly from many of the inspiring leaders who have been theorizing, organizing, and laying the policy groundwork for that leap forward—and you might just be moved to join them."

-Naomi Klein, author of No Is Not Enough and This Changes Everything "Want to know how to address climate change, structural racism, and economic inequality at the same time? Start by reading this book. This is a critical read for those seeking to build a broader movement for economic equity, environmental justice, and planetary health."

-Manuel Pastor, Director, Program for Environmental & Regional Equity, University of Southern California "There's no topic on the planet more important right now than democratizing energy…This book does a fine job of helping readers understand the perspectives and undercurrents that make breaking with the disastrous status quo both difficult and urgent."

-Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy "Energy Democracy is a call to action and a powerful tool for activists and grassroots leaders seeking to create a new energy paradigm that empowers our most vulnerable communities and fosters equitable, resilient economies."

-Angela Glover Blackwell, CEO, PolicyLink "From the Flint water crisis to calamities like Superstorm Sandy, it is becoming more evident that our nation must get serious about addressing environmental injustice. Energy Democracy advances a conversation about the climate crisis and deepening racial inequality at a time when these issues are in the forefront of our political landscape."

-Gerry Hudson, Secretary-Treasurer, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "Energy Democracy draws upon some of the most exciting voices in the growing movement for a new energy economy. It offers a clear vision of the clean energy future…might just be possible if we learn to recognize and fight for it."

-Gar Alperovitz, Co-founder of The Democracy Collaborative and Co-chair of The Next System Project “This exceedingly important book…shares strategies on how we win on climate, how we win on renewable energy, and how we win on empowering vulnerable communities!"

-Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior Vice President, Hip Hop Caucus ISLAND PRESS | PRAISE FOR ENERGY DEMCORACY| 1