Question 1

Why “Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities” and why now?

Accepted Answer

Everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy community powered by clean energy. Getting relief to families and workers should be our first priority, and we also need to build for the future. Let’s invest in clean energy and climate solutions, so we can create jobs, reduce air and water pollution, protect public lands and oceans, and help solve the climate crisis​. ​With this renewed focus on recovery, we will build resilient communities and correct the inequity linked to environmental injustices and health disparities ​which put vulnerable communities at higher risk, especially those ​in the workforce risking their lives at the front lines of the pandemic.
The Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities is demanding that any coronavirus stimulus or recovery package reduces pollution, protects public health, corrects inequity linked to environmental injustices and health disparities, invests in clean energy and conservation projects to retain and create jobs, and addresses the climate crisis in addition to meeting the immediate needs of frontline workers risking their lives to protect ours and families most impacted by this public health and economic catastrophe. 
The last thing we need to do during a public health crisis is to hand over billions in taxpayer bailouts to big oil, gas, and coal CEOs and their lobbyists. Taxpayer-funded relief should go to families and workers hit hardest by the pandemic and the current recession. We must protect these workers and communities as we transition to cleaner forms of energy.

Question 2

How can I get involved?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.c4cehc.org and ask your Members of Congress to ensure any relief directly related to COVID-19 benefits all communities by addressing the climate crisis, correcting inequity linked to environmental injustices and health disparities, supporting clean energy, protecting public health, conserving our lands, wildlife and oceans, and cutting dangerous pollution so that we can rebuild a stronger, more sustainable, and equitable country.

Question 3

How can my organization get involved?

Accepted Answer

All organizations are welcome to join the campaign. Visit www.c4cehc.org to learn more and contact the Climate Action Campaign to join.

Question 4

Do I/my organization need to join to get involved?

Accepted Answer

No. There are a number of ways to get involved. Visit www.c4cehc.org for more information.

Question 5

Is this organization doing electoral work in 2020?

Accepted Answer

No. The Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities will not engage in electoral activity.

Question 6

What is the Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities advocating for in a recovery package?

Accepted Answer

In addition to providing critical and immediate relief for frontline workers and those hit hardest by the economic recession, rebuilding our economy will require bold and transformative action. In order to create safe and healthy communities powered by clean energy, we want a recovery plan that reduces pollution, protects public health, corrects inequity linked to environmental injustices and health disparities, invests in clean energy, clean water, and conservation projects to retain and create jobs, and addresses the climate crisis. We reject any bailouts for fossil fuel CEOs and demand accountability for polluters, so we can swiftly transition our economy to support safer and healthier communities. In addition to supporting measures providing direct and immediate assistance to those most impacted by the economic recession, our advocacy will focus on:
 
Clean energy incentives
Investment in a clean energy economy will help reduce pollution impacts on frontline communities that led to severe health disparities before the crisis and higher mortality rates during the pandemic. The clean energy sector lost nearly 600,000 jobs since March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Building Efficiency and Electrification
During the pandemic and beyond, we need to improve building efficiency and bolster electrification to lower utility bills for families, small businesses, and communities, while reducing pollution and ensuring that everyone has access to adequate heating and cooling.
Clean Transportation
Transportation investments and policy solutions must work towards reducing pollution and providing affordable and accessible transit options for our communities—these solutions should provide greater mobility options for transit, move toward transportation electrification for people and goods, and be based on resilient infrastructure.
Resilient communities
It is time to invest in climate resiliency to support our communities and environmental justice, particularly frontline, vulnerable, Indigenous, and communities of color that have been under-resourced and disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change for too long.
Clean Water
We must ensure everyone has access to clean and safe water during the crisis now and in the future. It’s impossible to disinfect your hands or clean and disinfect your home as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without clean water. We must consider significant, long-term investments in our water programs and systems across the country to finally eliminate water inequities, spur economic recovery and growth, and build strong, resilient communities.
Natural Solutions
Land and water restoration will improve biodiversity for overall ecosystem health and should ease the pollution burden on communities, while related infrastructure projects will get people back to work.

Question 7

Do I need to support all six areas of advocacy to get involved with the Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities?

Accepted Answer

No, not all organizations involved in this coalition support all six priorities. However, they all stand united in support for recovery or stimulus packages that provide immediate assistance to those most in need, and in support at least one of the legislative priorities outlined above.

Question 8

Who is paying for the campaign?

Accepted Answer

The organizations involved in the coalition provide the resources needed to sustain it. There is no corporate funding provided to the Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities.

Question 9

How many organizations are participating?

Accepted Answer

Our coalition is growing, with more support every day for recovery and stimulus packages that will foster safer and healthier communities. A complete list of participating organizations can be found at www.c4cehc.org.

Question 10

Are there any restrictions on which types of organizations can join the Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities?

Accepted Answer

Organizations interested in joining the effort should support part or all of the proposals in our list of recovery package policies. Visit www.c4cehc.org for information on our legislative proposals.

Question 11

Where can the public go to get more information?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.c4cehc.org for more information.

Question 12

What is the difference between the Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities and other coalitions advocating for stimulus assistance for people?

Accepted Answer

The Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities is focused on ensuring that everyone can live in a safer and healthy community powered by clean energy. We support stimulus and recovery policies that provide direct assistance to people and create good jobs in the clean energy and conservation sectors, growing the economy, cutting pollution, correcting inequity linked to environmental injustices and health disparities, and address the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The Coalition for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities unites groups working across these priorities because we're more powerful together than we are apart.
 
Many of our member organizations support other efforts to provide just and fair recovery or stimulus support. Our proposal is additive to the broader effort to support our economic recovery, our most impacted citizens and our health care system.

FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS