U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Environmental Justice Manager, Melinda Downing, presented a paper at the 2008 Waste Management Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The paper, “Creating a Consortium to Increase Minority and Low-Income Community Participation in Alternative Energy Development, Production, and Management,” was written in collaboration with Geraldine Herring, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and John Rosenthall, Environmental Justice Conference, Inc.

According to the paper, America's desire for energy independence places a new demand on alternative fuel production. With the federal requirements for environmental justice and public participation, proponents of alternative energy facilities must discuss risk, production, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and waste matters with low-income and minority communities where these facilities are located, or wish to locate.

The fundamental principal of environmental justice is that all residents should have meaningful and intelligent participation in all aspects of environmental decision-making that could affect their community. Historically, many low-income and minority communities have lacked access to the required resources to make informed decisions with respect to various risks that accompany energy production and hazardous materials management. In order to provide the necessary assistance to these communities, DOE and USDA have teamed with others to create the Alternative Energy Consortium.

The proposed Alternative Energy Consortium will be a collaboration of nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) with the Dr. Samuel P. Massie Chairs of Excellence at the core, and private sector corporations designed to explore and develop opportunities that empower minorities to participate in all aspects of the field of alternative energy. The consortium's primary objectives are to find ways to

The consortium will work together to create a process whereby minorities and low-income individuals will be recruited, educated, and mentored to maximize alternative energy ownership and job opportunities.

The annual Waste Management conference draws some 2,000 persons from throughout the world. Its purpose is to provide a forum for discussing and seeking solutions to the safe management of radioactive waste and radioactive materials.

For more information, contact Melinda Downing, DOE Environmental Justice Program Manager, at (202) 586-7703, or e-mail at Melinda.Downing@hq.doe.gov.