Environmental justice faces financial uncertainty during Trump 2.0

Richmonders recently gathered to discuss climate action, grants.

It was cold at Studio Two Three on a recent February night.

“Well, I'm feeling the need for that energy efficiency grant here, I decided to keep my coat on,” Dyanna Jaye said to laughs from the room.

Jaye, deputy director at Clean Virginia and a co-founder of the national Sunrise Movement, was part of a panel discussing local climate action with Richmond-area residents. She’s referring to a $200,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant the community art space had been vying for.

“It was very unsexy stuff, you know, HVAC, interior storm windows, new doors that are better insulated,” said Ashley Hawkins, co-founder of Studio Two Three. “But that would have a huge impact on our operating costs every year and make this building much more climate friendly, and sustainable and affordable in the long term.”

Hawkins said the grant appeared to be dead in the water following extensive climate funding freezes and clawbacks implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration. But she said it was hard to confirm whether there was any chance the money will be available. Read the full VPM article here.