Advancing Energy Equity in California | Bishop, Carreño | Energy Seminar

Abstract: The Greenlining Institute works towards a future where communities of color can build wealth, live in healthy places filled with economic opportunity, and are ready to meet the challenges posed by climate change. Building lasting climate resilience in communities of color can only be achieved by focusing on the intersection of climate action, racial justice, and economic equity. The Energy Equity team works to center equity in the burgeoning clean energy economy and to advance a just transition where the needs of communities are prioritized every step of the way. With the current momentum in the climate and energy policy space, it is vital that policies and programs are shaped to create the best racial equity outcomes. Equitable energy policies help reduce the impacts of climate change, end reliance on fossil fuels, and offer economic opportunities and wealth generation to formerly redlined neighborhoods. In this seminar, Jordyn Bishop (Senior Legal Counsel of Energy Equity) and Isabella Carreño (Climate Equity Fellow) will provide an overview of The Greenlining Institute's work and their current efforts to equitably advance an affordable, reliable, and climate-resilient clean energy future in California.

Bios: Jordyn Bishop (she/her/hers) is the Senior Legal Counsel of Energy Equity at The Greenlining Institute. Jordyn leads Greenlining’s energy affordability work by advocating for laws and regulations that center the energy needs of low-income and communities of color. She focuses on equitably advancing an affordable, reliable, and climate-resilient clean energy future in California. Jordyn is a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, but born and raised on Ohlone land. She previously served as Assistant City Attorney to several cities advising on a wide range of local government matters. Jordyn received her B.A. from the California State University, East Bay, and her J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco with a concentration in Social Justice Lawyering. In her off time, Jordyn can be found spoiling her pit bull, traveling internationally, and spending time with family and friends.

Isabella “Bella” Carreño (she/her/hers) is the Climate Equity Fellow at The Greenlining Institute. Throughout her time at Greenlining, she will be researching grid reliability, its ties to equity, and engaging with the community through the Leadership Academy. Growing up in Bakersfield, California, Bella became passionate about environmental and racial justice from a very young age through seeing the impacts of racial and environmental inequity firsthand. Prior to her Fellowship, Bella graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in political science with a minor in journalism. Throughout her time at UC Berkeley, Isabella worked as an intern for an immigration law firm, an anti-sex trafficking organization, and the United States Senate, all of which taught her the importance of diverse voices in advocacy and policy. Bella believes that racial, socioeconomic, and environmental equity are vital to a better future. While at Greenlining, she hopes to grow her skills and knowledge about the intersection between the environment and policy to make her community, and others like it, a better place. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and exploring the Bay area.