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“Environmental justice is definitely an area that I’m passionate about because it’s deeply entwined with racial justice. Communities of color have been disproportionately victimized by environmental hazards, discriminatory environmental policy, and are far more likely to live in areas with heavy pollution.

At Volt, we are trying to reverse these injustices by building clean non-polluting solar plants in our communities.”

— Gilbert Campbell

About the Episode:

Pioneering innovative solutions like the Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement (EJPPA) to drive wealth creation and improve health outcomes through solar projects, Campbell has partnered with tech giants like Microsoft to supply 250MW of clean power. His model demonstrates how clean energy can simultaneously foster sustainability and social equity.

Marginalized communities across the country have long faced environmental injustice, overlooked for the kinds of development that bring economic opportunities - like renewable energy. As the shift to clean energy accelerates, prioritizing these communities and addressing both their health and financial needs is a key component of building a more equitable and just energy transition. With intentional deployment, solar projects have the power to close these gaps and create a more equitable future for all communities.

Gilbert Campbell, Founder & CEO of Volt Energy Utility, has dedicated his career to making renewable energy accessible, particularly for communities that have historically been left behind. A Howard University graduate and Board member of SEIA, Gilbert is a prominent leader and influential voice in clean energy. 

Expect to learn:

• How Gilbert’s values of service and community shaped his clean energy journey
• How Gilbert leveraged his Corporate training into entrepreneurship and the origin of his energy businesses
• Why mentorship and developing diverse clean energy leaders led to programs like the Sharing the Power Foundation's HBCU Clean Energy and Environmental Justice Fellowship
• What are the challenges of clean energy communication and the need for better storytelling

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation on how intentional clean energy investments can transform communities and create lasting impact.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Gilbert Campbell:

• LinkedIn 

Check out Volt Energy Utility:

• Website | LinkedIn | X

Resources:

• Sharing the Power Foundation 
• An Interview with Gilbert by Howard University

What Makes the Great Great
by Dennis Kimbro

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“We are trying to make sure that we leave a healthier planet for our kids, and we are just developing clean solar projects with the intentionality of increasing and generating wealth in communities that have been left behind and improving health outcomes in those communities. So our mission is unapologetically serving those that have been given a bad shake and making sure that they are at the forefront of this revolution that we’re going through with clean energy.”

— Gilbert Campbell

“Somebody has to be able to speak for those that don’t have a seat at the table.”

— Gilbert Campbell

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is Chint Power Systems America!

CPS America is the #1 supplier of 3-phase string inverters for Commercial & Industrial and Utility-Scale projects with more than 8 gigawatts of inverters installed on 20,000+ sites around the nation!

Visit https://www.mysuncast.com/cps

We are grateful for our GOLD sponsor:

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 15 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.