Building more energy transition technology facilities is often regarded as an unquestioned good. Community members where they tend to get built may not agree. Involving communities in the design process can result in better community acceptance and more appropriate implementation within the local context. As communities across the Southeast grapple with the realities of a rapidly evolving energy landscape, Georgia Tech’s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is helping bridge a divide that has long existed between technological innovation and the people most affected by it, through their signature initiative, the Southeast Community Energy Futures Academy (SCEFA). 

“Lasting solutions emerge when researchers and communities work together from the beginning, asking the right questions and considering both the opportunities and tradeoffs,” said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research. “SCEFA offers a powerful model for developing energy solutions with communities, not simply for them. This collaborative approach reflects how Georgia Tech can help address complex challenges that no institution or community can solve alone.” 

Read the full article about SCEFA here.