In the last four years, it’s impressive to see how much we’ve grown — from a staff of two to ten — and how much we’ve accomplished. We’ve published reports that advance just nuclear policy, from Coal-to-Nuclear Repowering to Sustainable Uranium Mining. We founded a fellowship program for HBCU students, gave congressional testimony, and were chosen by the DOE for an award to build capacity for consent-based siting of nuclear waste.

Fast-forward to today, and we have a Democratic presidential candidate (and VP) who is strong on climate but wary of nuclear energy out of concern for environmental justice. That is exactly where Good Energy thrives. While some nuclear advocates worry that Harris’ focus on environmental justice will be at odds with continued support for nuclear energy, Good Energy is well-positioned to make the case that not only can you have nuclear projects that are just, equitable, and community-supported, but that is the only way the technology will be successful in the long-term.

In the next year, we will continue and expand our work on state and community-level engagement around coal-to-nuclear repowering. We’ll be looking at the geography of environmental justice impacts of different deep decarbonization scenarios in the U.S. and educating progressive congressional offices on the unique benefits of nuclear. We’re also hoping to fundraise to sustain our HBCU fellowship program and expand it to a broader group of Minority Serving Institutions.

While the bulk of our funding still comes from philanthropic foundations and government grants, we’ve been fortunate to have such strong support from small, individual - and creative! - donors. We’ve had folks raise money for Good Energy for their birthdays, through mountain bike races, and even their wedding guests. We truly couldn’t do this work without your support, and we are deeply grateful for your contributions. No matter the outcome of the presidential election, there will be much more work to do to achieve a just and equitable energy future, and we hope to continue this journey with your support.