In partnership with leading Boston-based anti-poverty and community development organizations, SHINE brings solar jobs and renewable energy to these marginalized neighborhoods
BOSTON—Rare, an international conservation organization specializing in social change for the environment, today announced the launch of Solar Helping Ignite Neighborhood Economies (SHINE), an initiative aimed at connecting solar power job opportunities and renewable home energy to underserved neighborhoods of Boston. The project is in partnership with Boston’s leading community action agency, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), and other local organizations, and will bring new green job opportunities and renewable home energy to communities that have challenges accessing both. The initiative will also advance the transition to clean energy needed to meet societal, federal, state, and municipal climate objectives.
Developed as part of Rare’s Climate Culture program, initially introduced in Boston in 2022, the SHINE initiative will be funded by two grants recently awarded to Rare, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Community Power Accelerator Prize, which fast-tracks the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC)’s Equity Workforce Training Implementation grant, which will support the first two cohorts of 20 students each through SHINE’s job training program and provide wraparound support services as well as job placement after graduating.
“For too long, our most vulnerable communities have disproportionately borne the brunt of climate change, and it is essential for environmental, racial, and economic justice initiatives to work together to disrupt this unjust status quo,” said Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts Congresswoman. “The SHINE initiative is at the intersection of this work and will empower more Bostonians to take part in sustainable energy initiatives, access jobs in the high-paying clean energy sector and help us meet our climate goals. I’m grateful to Rare and our partners at ABCD for launching this important initiative.”
“In order to reach our state’s climate goals, we need a strong, dynamic, and inclusive clean energy workforce. Our administration is proud to support innovative projects that stand at the intersection of the climate crisis, environmental justice, and economic development,” said Governor Maura T. Healey. “Programs like SHINE empower our communities and residents to actively join this clean energy transition by creating pathways that offer accessible entry points into valuable careers and support our workforce needs.”
ABCD Media Contact: Jamie McIver
jamie.mciver@bostonabcd.org
