Energy Equity Collaborative

The Energy Equity Collaborative provides a forum for New York State and those who serve and represent historically marginalized communities to collaborate.

Powering Equity Together.

Launched in 2023, the Energy Equity Collaborative is a bold effort uniting NYSERDA, other State agency partners, Indigenous Nations, community-based organizations, frontline advocates, and people living and working in Disadvantaged Communities to confront energy inequity and climate injustice—together, head-on.

• How we’re making sure no community is left behind in New York’s clean energy future: We elevate energy and climate equity issues across New York State and identify the best opportunities to inform and shape new initiatives.
• We build strong, constructive relationships between NYSERDA and organizations that represent disadvantaged communities (DACs) to drive equitable planning initiatives and programs.
• We strengthen the knowledge, connections, and ability of DAC stakeholders to help guide statewide clean energy planning.
• We provide a dedicated space for NYSERDA to share updates and for communities to offer early, open, and meaningful feedback that fosters transparency, accountability, and action.

The Energy Equity Collaborative advises NYSERDA but is not a legal entity or formal decision-making body. NYSERDA commits to transparency, accountability, and collaboration to address the issues and opportunities identified by the Steering Committee and working groups.

With NYSERDA’s support, the Collaborative:

• Hosts meetings that invite meaningful dialogue between community organizations, NYSERDA leadership, program teams, and other State agency partners to drive solutions that prioritize DACs.
• Supports Working Groups focused on sector-specific challenges and opportunities to receive input from several organizations across the state and various communities.
• Helps build a powerful network of organizations ensuring that under-resourced and historically marginalized communities are not just heard—but prioritized.

Steering Committee

The Collaborative is co-led by a Steering Committee made up of community-based organizations and other entities that primarily serve historically marginalized and otherwise disadvantaged communities.

The Steering Committee helps to organize and adapt the structure, focus, and governance of the Collaborative advisory body to engage a broad and diverse network of community-based organizations. This includes an established process for how future organizations will be selected to take part in the Collaborative. The Steering Committee also provides input, as needed, on early-stage planning of initiatives from NYSERDA.

Current members of the Steering Committee include (not all groups are listed):

In addition to NYSERDA who sponsors the EEC the following New York state agencies support the Steering Committee with their presence, subject matter expertise, and connection to relevant resources:

Working Groups

Working Groups provide an opportunity for community-based organizations and other entities including Indigenous Nations to provide input and develop recommendations on sector-specific areas. Currently, the Collaborative has four Groups focused on Building Energy Efficiency, and Electrification, Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities, Energy Transition, and Community Engagement and Access.

Interested in Joining a Working Group?

The Collaborative is growing participation in these Working Groups, and all groups are accepting new members! To be eligible to join a Working Group, organizations and other entities* must be current members of the Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Consultant Pool.

To learn how to apply to join the DAC Consultant Pool—and what the eligibility criteria are—visit the Request for Qualifications 4922 .  Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed quarterly.

*NYSERDA is committed to working with Indigenous Nations to include them in the Collaborative considering their sovereign government status. Indigenous Nations interested in participating should reach out to Shara Francis-Herne at [email protected].