LAS VEGAS (June 19, 2024) — The American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today announced the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to reinforce their joint commitment to strengthening the energy workforce. The MOU was signed during EEI 2024, EEI’s annual thought leadership forum.

For decades, EEI, our member electric companies, and AABE have worked together to advance a shared vision to ensure greater participation in the development of energy policy, which is central to economic growth and job creation. This MOU will leverage this partnership to create more engagement opportunities between the organizations both in Washington, D.C., and at the state and local levels.

This MOU builds upon new programming that EEI and AABE have developed together, such as the Executive Leadership Summit, which convenes industry executives, leaders from Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and national civic organizations, and elected officials to discuss best practices for expanding the diverse leadership pipeline. Beginning the leadership training process earlier in the careers of promising candidates by working with HBCUs and minority-serving institutions helps to expose students to the tremendous career opportunities in the electric power industry.

AABE President and CEO Ralph Cleveland shared, “Partnering with the Edison Electric Institute through this memorandum is an important step in lifting up marginalized voices in the energy sector. We are in the throes of deep transformation, and it is crucial that we work together to ensure inclusive policies and opportunities for all. This collaboration will open doors for greater engagement and leadership development, particularly through our work with HBCUs.”

“America’s electric companies have long demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement and investment,” said EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette. “Our partnership with AABE is critical to ensuring we build and maintain a diverse, world-class workforce for our industry. We are proud of this relationship and our joint efforts to support local communities across the country.”