EMPOWER Coalition

The EMPOWER Coalition works to reduce energy burdens and improve economic and health conditions for residents in underserved communities in Alachua County, FL. The coalition of governmental, community, educational, nonprofit and private sector organizations focuses on energy efficiency, weatherization, solar energy and the development of a green jobs pipeline. After forming in 2022, the coalition organized a Green Jobs Pipeline Roundtable to identify ways to expand existing programs in public schools’ curriculum, vocational training, internships, business and entrepreneurship opportunities, and sustainability policies related to green jobs. The coalition also organized monthly Weatherization Coordination meetings with local service providers, resulting in the creation of a guide to help residents seeking weatherization services; identifying bottlenecks in the provision of services; and the creation of Weatherization Technician Certification modules at Santa Fe College in Gainesville.

The EMPOWER Coalition serves economically disadvantaged residents in Springhill/Sugarhill and Greater Duval, and partners with the nonprofit Southwest Advocacy Group, which serves southwest Gainesville. The coalition includes the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, Santa Fe College, Alachua County NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, Cultural Arts Coalition, Community Weatherization Coalition, Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, CareerSource North Central Florida, Alachua County Public Schools, Solar Impact and representatives from the three priority communities. The Coalition was one of only 24 in the nation selected by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2022 to participate in the first cohort of the Communities Local Energy Action Program, and one of only 30 communities selected in 2024 in the second cohort. The coalition is developing an innovative project to leverage institutional solar benefits for a community-governed fund to help energy-burdened communities.

For more information:

EMPOWER Coalition Selected for DOE’s Communities LEAP Cohort 2, Alachua County News and Updates, March 2024
Alachua County EMPOWER Program Chosen to Participate in Communities LEAP, Alachua County News and Updates, April 2022