Filling in Equity Gaps with San Diego’s First Energy Equity Campus: Caring for Communities of Concern

The San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition has partnered with The Sage Project to develop programming for the first instance of infrastructure based soley on sustainability in Southeast San Diego, the San Diego Energy Equity Campus. The equity campus will be located in Valencia Park, an urban community in the southeastern portion of the City of San Diego, at the corner of Stephens Way and Imperial Ave. The area of Valencia Park will tremendously benefit from the equity campus because the communities of color and low-income areas are more likely to be exposed to air pollution, are more susceptible to the consequences of climate change, and stand to gain the most from programs that promote energy efficiency and jobs that cut costs. Ultimately, there is not enough representation for these communities in San Diego’s utility planning process. Utility planning processes must incorporate genuine community engagement, participation, and leadership from the full spectrum of San Diego communities in order to ensure that the use of energy is effective and lessen the detrimental effects of its generation on vulnerable areas. The goal of the Equity Campus is, “To educate the generations to come, demonstrate sustainability, collaborate, and operate in a manner that delivers opportunity and breaks the systemic barriers to the community and transforms Southeastern San Diego with equitable sustainable development.” Lastly, they state that their intended purpose is to support the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego in successfully implementing their climate action plans by ensuring that all societal segments participate in, contribute to, and benefit from reducing climate impacts and promoting the development of renewable energy sources. San Diego Energy Equity Campus outlined eleven initiatives they are committing to the community: ● Education: Educate across generations linking the wisdom and experience with the energy and enthusiasm of youth ● Demonstration: Demonstrate sustainability and energy technology for healthy, safe, resilient, and efficient homes, schools and workplaces ● Opportunity: Delivering opportunity and break the systemic barriers to the community and transforms SE SD with equitable sustainable development ● Collaboration: Collaborate to unlock innovation and investment for Valencia Park ● Integration: Integrate career exploration in energy, sustainability and environmentalism ● Networking: Professional networking mixers and industry events ● Planning: Business planning and incubation support ● Mentorship: Mentorship (formal and informal) to support growth and connection ● Training: Vocational training in energy, sustainability and real estate ● Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship program to create pathways to careers, along with Paid Internships for local students ● Technology: Community technology pilots that highlight emerging opportunity. The San Diego Energy Equity Campus hopes to stand by the community’s needs for equitable access to greenspace by providing ample sections of it within its design. They also plan to connect local public transit to the campus through a sustainable pathway that will reach between the two nearby trolley stops. Businesses such as SD Community Power, GRID Alternatives, and other solar power companies have already begun to pledge their support and driven interest in establishing operations at the campus, as a way of educating the community on ways in which sustainable alternatives can aid their lives. Another focus of operations is to provide options and knowledge on how community members could acquire or actively pursue sustainable infrastructure installation options within the community. The San Diego Energy Equity Campus seeks to provide consultation, teaching, and even employment through a set of promises to their community in the form of a benefits agreement (San Diego Energy Equity Campus).