Embedding Equity in Multi-State Building Decarbonization Policy
Partner: NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management)
The Challenge
As states across the Northeast accelerate efforts to decarbonize residential buildings, NESCAUM set out to develop a Multi-State Action Plan that ensures these policies are equitable, community-centered, and informed by the people most impacted by pollution and energy burdens.
NESCAUM partnered with Equnival to ensure that environmental justice perspectives were not just consulted but meaningfully integrated into the design of the Action Plan and the underlying Model Rule.
Our Approach
Virtual and in-person convenings to share expertise and analyze state policy proposals
Equnival convened the Environmental Justice Advisory Group (EJAG)—a cohort of nine national and regional organizations representing environmental justice, community advocacy, health equity, and social impact.
Over a 12-month period, Equnival facilitated:
Learning sessions to build common understanding of technical, regulatory, and economic implications
Structured deliberations to develop actionable, community-driven recommendations
This process provided NESCAUM with a deep, sustained engagement model that centered lived experience alongside policy and technical expertise.
The Outcome
The EJAG contributed directly to shaping the final NESCAUM Multi-State Action Plan, released in September 2025. Their work produced:
Guiding Principles for Equitable Building Decarbonization to help states design policies that prioritize fairness and community benefit.
Detailed comments and revisions to NESCAUM’s Model Rule on residential building decarbonization.
Equity recommendations for the Action Plan, ensuring that state strategies address affordability, housing stability, public health, and community capacity.
“Decarbonization succeeds when communities benefit—not just environmentally, but economically.”
What Made This Project Unique
A central theme that emerged throughout the EJAG process was the importance of access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the building decarbonization economy.
Two critical insights stood out:
Equitable electrification requires collaboration among labor, industry, EJ advocates, and government.
States need clearer strategies to expand pathways into high-quality jobs and business opportunities for frontline communities.
In response, Equnival is now engaging labor partners to design a dedicated effort focused on the intersection of environmental justice and the clean energy workforce—and is pursuing funding to advance this next phase of work.