Good Energy Collaborative at Swarthmore College’s Lang Center

TL/DR –

The Good Energy Collaborative (GEC) is a partnership between Swarthmore College faculty and students and environmental justice organizations from the cities of Chester and Philadelphia, offering services such as solar energy installation, green job training, and community outreach programs. The GEC aims to address environmental justice concerns and facilitate sustainable economic development for marginalized communities, especially as the country transitions away from a fossil fuel-based economy. The cities of Chester and Philadelphia have previously been negatively affected by harmful environmental practices, and the GEC hopes to empower these communities by reducing further environmental damage and promoting involvement in the “sustainability revolution.”

Good Energy Collaborative: A Partnership for Environmental Justice and Equity

The Good Energy Collaborative (GEC) is an expanding partnership between Swarthmore College and environmental justice organizations in Chester and Philadelphia. GEC’s mission is to integrate the ‘soul-ar’ energy into sustainable transitions via initiatives like solar energy installation for non-profits, green job training for low-income youth, and community outreach.

This educational mission aims to highlight environmental justice concerns and showcase sustainable economic development opportunities emerging from governmental policies like the Inflation Reduction Act and Justice40. As the US shifts away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable systems, GEC aims to involve historically overlooked communities in shaping healthier, economically secure futures in the green economy.

Chester and Philadelphia have long suffered from environmental hazards due to unfair and unsustainable policies, with poverty in Chester reaching 28.3%. Residents face disproportionate health effects from pollution exposure, severe weather events, and climate disruptions like urban heat islands and flooding.

GEC, with the support of an educated community engaged in environmental justice, is committed to reducing further environmental damage and empowering these disadvantaged communities.

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