Achieving Climate & Energy Justice: President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative

What is the Justice40 Initiative? 

Thanks to President Biden, the Federal government has — for the first time in our nation’s history — made it a goal to ensure 40 percent of overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.  Federal programs will ensure that disadvantaged communities receive the benefits of new and existing Federal investments in these categories: clean energy, clean transit, affordable housing, workforce development, pollution reduction, and water infrastructure. 

Justice40 ensures that the Federal government is making long-term and sustainable investments that are equitably distributed.  
 

Justice40 Programs at the Department of Energy: 

The Department of Energy has announced more than 140 programs  to support the Justice40 initiative, including research and development projects, grant programs, and efforts to increase energy efficiency in American homes.  

One related program is the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, which provides Federal grants to states, local, and Tribal governments to assist in the implementation of strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions and energy consumption, while improving energy efficiency.  

The Weatherization Assistance Program is also a Justice40 program that aims to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income individuals to reduce their total energy costs and improve their health and safety.  

Each of these programs and their associated benefits and operations are working to correct generations of burden placed on disadvantaged communities. 

Through Justice40, the Biden-Harris Administration and the Department of Energy are committed to making certain the needs of underserved and overburdened communities are met, and that all communities reap the benefits of our clean energy future.

Learn more at energy.gov/Justice40.