Former NFL player founds non-profit advocating for affordable, reliable energy to reduce poverty in marginalized communities across U.S.
ANNAPOLIS:
The Energy and Poverty Awareness Center (EnPAC), a non-profit dedicated to advancing reliable and affordable energy policies to help reduce poverty in minority communities, launched on January 25, 2024 at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland.
Entrepreneur and former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Gary Baxter founded EnPAC after witnessing how energy policies have created systemic barriers that perpetuate energy poverty among minority communities. EnPAC will champion initiatives that bring forward more thoughtful policy, education, and sustainable energy solutions to underserved neighborhoods to create opportunities for economic growth and improved quality of life for marginalized communities.
“Everyone deserves access to clean, efficient, and affordable energy, regardless of their background or economic status,” Baxter said. “At EnPAC, we recognize the historical inequities that have disproportionately affected us and are committed to advocating for transformative initiatives that ensure equal access to sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy sources.”
Through education and advocacy, EnPAC seeks to create a more equitable energy environment across the United States to bring positive change, provide job opportunities, and reduce economic disparities.
“In 2021, after winter storm Uri in Texas, and being without power for days, I saw the effects energy had on minority communities and was inspired to learn about our American energy infrastructure from top to bottom in order to start providing shrewd, inclusive solutions for minority communities and not these one-size-fits-all approaches being proposed,” Baxter said. “Energy justice isn’t just a theoretical concept; it’s a tangible commitment to dismantling barriers that hinder progress in Black neighborhoods. We can catalyze positive change by championing thoughtful energy projects, promoting energy efficiency, and advocating for inclusive policies. It’s time to illuminate our communities, not just with lights, but with the empowering glow of opportunity, resilience, and a future where energy justice is a cornerstone of our economic and environmental well-being.”
Black households are almost two-and-a-half times more likely than other American households to be disconnected from their utility, a yawning gap in access, according to the Congressional Research Service’s Electric Utility Disconnections report.
“More than 38% of Black Americans reported not being able to afford their energy bills; we cannot sit idly by as our friends and neighbors struggle to afford a basic need because of inequitable, imprudent energy policies,” EnPAC Board Member Airika Brunson said. “These are the types of statistics we must change through inclusive policies that promote diversity across energy sources to ensure affordable and reliable energy for minority communities and break the energy poverty cycle.”
EnPAC hosted community members and local officials for a reception at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, on January 25, 2024 to mark its formal launch.
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About the Energy and Poverty Awareness Center
The Energy and Poverty Awareness Center (EnPAC) is dedicated to advancing the prosperity of minority communities through reliable and affordable energy solutions – because everyone deserves access to clean, efficient, and affordable energy, regardless of their background or economic status. To achieve this mission, EnPAC works to identify the energy needs of minority communities and develop customized solutions tailored to their unique circumstances. EnPAC’s efforts focus on reducing poverty by providing reliable energy options that can power economic growth, improve access to education and healthcare, and enhance the overall quality of life for minority communities. EnPAC works daily to advance an equitable and sustainable energy future to create a lasting positive impact that uplifts and empowers minority communities for generations.