As this Juneteenth approaches, the word “freedom” will echo across the United States at cookouts and celebrations. Juneteenth has always sat at the crossroads of faith, hope, and lament — a declaration of freedom and emancipation shadowed by the recognition that delay means freedom’s uneven reach. It’s a celebratory note that can ring hollower and hollower with each passing year. You’re likely familiar with the racist institutions (especially here in the South) that denied Black Americans rights long after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Not unlike Jim Crow segregation and redlined communities after it, another system continues to overburden Black Southerners today: our energy system.

If I could describe the conference in two words, it would be somber and hopeful. There was a keen awareness of how bleak our current political climate can feel for those passionate about environmental justice, but also an appreciation for the strength and resilience of our communities. 

There is scripture from my own Christian tradition that reminds us that before anything is built, there must first be a counting of the cost (Luke 14:28). Not just the financial cost but the spiritual, communal, and generational cost of our decisions. In this season, we are asking a deeper question: What is the true cost of fossil fuels and who is paying for it?

The 2026 legislative session has come to a close, but our advocacy is far from over. Because of your engagement this session, we made a meaningful difference on every one of our priority issues. Your actions mattered. This was not simply a session where good bills failed to pass. It was a session where sustained pressure stopped bad outcomes and forced better ones into view.