The clean energy industry steps up to aid Texans in need
Last month’s Texas blackouts and infrastructure failures offer a stark reminder that many of the systems we depend on every day are not equipped to withstand the extreme events climate change is making more and more frequent. The clean energy industry is committed to overcoming these challenges by supplying an ever-greater share of zero-emission electricity and strengthening the country’s power grid. In the short term, the industry is also stepping up to aid Texas families who are still struggling in the aftermath of winter storm Uri.
Texas is the beating heart of America’s clean energy industry– it leads the nation with enough clean energy online to power 8.7 million homes and over 36,000 Texans have direct clean energy jobs. It’s safe to say the success of both U.S. clean energy and Texas are inextricably intertwined.
So it’s no surprise ACP members are stepping up to help. Many of these companies’ employees call Texas home, and they spend years developing clean energy projects, forging close ties and building relationships in communities throughout the state.
Donations to Feeding Texas, a project of Feeding America, have been a primary focus of the clean energy industry’s relief efforts. Feeding America is an organization whose “mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.” So far, ACP members Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Invenergy, Clearway, Duke, and Recurrent Energy have made corporate or foundation contributions to Feeding Texas.
Other ACP member activities include donations to the American Red Cross from BP, Avangrid, and Duke. BP also contributed to a new winter-weather relief fund, established by the City of Houston and administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, to provide plumbing services to low-income residents. Enel has made donations to food banks in Texas and Oklahoma as well.
It takes a group effort to overcome challenges of this magnitude, and the clean energy industry is pitching in to do its part on multiple fronts. American clean power stands with Texas throughout the recovery process.