Biannual Climate Steward Report
Prepared for Okta
June 2025
Dear Climate Steward,
Thank you for your ongoing support of our Community Partners and climate justice.
As we recently marked Memorial Day and honored those who sacrificed their lives for our nation, we are also reminded of the ongoing struggles that continue to shape America. Five years ago, the murder of George Floyd ignited a global call for racial justice—yet the backlash and erosion of those demands reveal just how persistent and deeply rooted our challenges remain.
Our nation was founded on ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—values that now feel under threat for many, from cuts in healthcare and food assistance to eroding civil liberties. The wounds of systemic oppression run deep, and this Memorial Day reminds us that the fight for justice is ongoing and shared by all.
Solar Stewards was founded at a moment like this in 2016, when private sector actors recommitted to climate action despite the shift in Federal policy. It is in these critical moments, moments like now, that your leadership and commitment as a Climate Steward is imperative.
Thank you for providing the membership that enables the growing Solar Stewards team to show up for historically excluded communities, advocate for climate justice, work to secure and evolve community benefit agreements, and connect with Social RECs® buyers.
Thank you for your leadership and steadfast support in these critical times.
With gratitude,
Dana Clare Redden
Founder and CEO
Project Summary
Salt Lake City (SLC) is on track to achieve a voluntary clean energy target of 100% renewable energy by 2030, prioritizing equitable outcomes through localized climate action. To support this ambitious goal, Solar Stewards has partnered with SLC to advance community solar generation and energy equity programs.
Solar Stewards collaborated with SLC representatives to identify Okta as a key partner in procuring Social RECs® generated at the Sorenson Multicultural Center. By purchasing these Social RECs®, Okta actively supports Salt Lake City’s efforts to promote energy equity and community advocacy in Utah.
A formal Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) has been developed and signed, which allocates revenue from the procured Social RECs® to support critical community development programs. These initiatives include food security, indoor air quality improvements, and other localized sustainability projects that uplift vulnerable communities within Salt Lake City
The collaboration between Solar Stewards and Okta has not only supported clean energy goals but has also created measurable impact in underserved communities, particularly in Salt Lake City, Utah. Here's a detailed look at what we've accomplished together so far—and where we’re headed next.
Salt Lake City and Okta
Progress Report
Thanks to Okta’s partnership, Salt Lake City was able to expand two key community programs in 2025:
Indoor Air Quality Program
Funded in part by Social RECs®, this program distributes high-efficiency air filtration systems to homes most impacted by poor air quality—often due to proximity to industrial zones or highways.
The program not only improves respiratory health but also supports elderly residents and children with asthma.
Food Microgrant Program
Reopened in Spring 2025, this initiative supports community gardens, local food co-ops, and food access nonprofits in Salt Lake City’s underserved neighborhoods.
Microgrants empower residents to create solutions tailored to their needs, ensuring the funding has lasting, hyperlocal impact.
These programs represent climate equity in action, showing how energy investments can power far more than kilowatt hours.
Marketplace Demonstration: A Tool for Transparency
On May 14, 2025, Dana Clare Redden, Founder and CEO of Solar Stewards, met with the Okta sustainability and procurement teams to introduce the Solar Stewards Marketplace—a digital hub designed to transform how corporations view, select, and support Social REC projects.
Through this platform, Okta and other partners can:
Browse verified renewable energy projects with embedded social impact metrics.
Filter projects by location, demographic served, or type of benefit (e.g., health, education, economic development).
Access a private reporting dashboard that tracks energy generation, financial contributions, and community stories.
This demo set the stage for Okta’s deeper engagement with upcoming projects and opened the door to expanding participation in 2026.
Contract & Reporting Improvements: Building for the Long Haul
Recognizing the importance of clarity and agility in impact procurement, Solar Stewards and Okta worked together in Q1 and Q2 2025 to refine their existing agreement.
Key improvements:
A proposed contract amendment simplifies the Social REC® transfer process, aligning it with Okta’s internal finance cycles and ensuring that donations are appropriately timed with project development.
The amendment includes enhanced reporting provisions, including real-time data dashboards, infographics, and co-branded communications.
These changes allow for scalable impact tracking, making it easier for Okta to integrate Social REC data into sustainability reports, shareholder updates, and employee engagement initiatives.
Okta’s Commitment to a Sustainable Future
Okta goes beyond sustainability metrics by investing in Social RECs® that deliver social impact—supporting resilient communities, clean energy access, and economic opportunity for a more equitable future.
Events and Thought Leadership
ACORE Accelerate Forum
The ACORE Accelerate Forum & Alumni Reunion successfully took place on June 4–5, 2025, as part of the larger ACORE Finance Forum in New York City. This annual convening, organized by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), serves as a key platform to amplify the voices and leadership of clean energy entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The Accelerate Initiative aims to address equity and inclusion within the renewable energy industry by supporting diverse founders through capacity-building, mentorship, and access to capital networks.
The forum featured a full slate of programming tailored to the Accelerate cohort and alumni network, including roundtable discussions, pitch sessions, peer-led panels, and networking with industry leaders and financial institutions. It also included a dedicated Alumni Reunion, offering a space for past and current members to reconnect, reflect on growth, and discuss ongoing challenges and opportunities within the clean energy space.
Dana actively participated in the convening and represented the organization in both cohort-related sessions and broader discussions around equitable project development and social impact in clean energy. Her presence reinforced strategic alignment with mission-aligned partners and opened follow-up conversations around potential Social REC collaborations, community benefits agreements (CBAs), and corporate responsibility partnerships.
The event strengthened existing relationships within the Accelerate network and opened new pathways for collaboration with investors, developers, and policymakers. Participants shared measurable outcomes resulting from their involvement in the Accelerate Initiative, including business expansion, revenue growth, and increased industry visibility. The forum reaffirmed the importance of platforms like ACORE Accelerate in breaking down barriers to entry and positioning diverse leaders at the forefront of the clean energy transition.
Reference Links
ACORE Finance Forum: https://acore.org/events/finance-forum/
ACORE Accelerate Initiative: https://acore.org/initiatives/accelerate/
ACORE LinkedIn Post (Recap): View here
Clean Energy Jobs Press Conference
On May 5, 2025, Dana Clare Redden was a featured speaker at a press conference held at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was organized by Girl Plus Environment and the Climate Action Campaign to spotlight the critical role of clean energy jobs in supporting economic opportunities for younger generations, especially those from underrepresented communities. The timing of the event was especially important as it responded to growing concerns around recent federal freezes on clean energy investments and their potential impact on small businesses and job creation.
In her remarks, Dana emphasized that “climate can’t wait and neither can small businesses,” reinforcing the urgent need for continued government and private sector support for clean energy innovation and entrepreneurship. Her statement resonated with the event’s broader themes of climate justice, economic dignity, and the empowerment of minority-owned businesses within the clean energy transition. She was joined by other influential leaders including Tonya Hicks (Power Solutions, Inc.), Diamond Spratling (Girl Plus Environment), and Matt Cox (Greenlink Analytics), all of whom called for increased inclusion and investment in clean energy workforce development.
AABE 48th National Conference
Solar Stewards, represented by Dana, actively engaged with the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) in preparation for the 48th National Conference held on May 1, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. Dana was invited by Jennifer Quarles of Gray Global Advisors to speak on the panel "Entrepreneurial Empowerment and Supply Diversity: Leveraging Partnerships and Networks for Entrepreneurial and Supplier Success."
In April, Camille Moore of AABE initiated conversations about featuring Solar Stewards in an Earth Day resource publication and began exploring a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AABE, Ralph, and Dresden to support shared goals around equity and renewable energy. Dana joined a follow-up call with Camille on April 3 to discuss collaborative opportunities and future involvement, including participation in upcoming BOSS (Black Owners and Suppliers) community events.
These activities reflect a growing and strategic partnership between Solar Stewards and AABE, grounded in shared values of energy equity, entrepreneurial inclusion, and community leadership. Dana’s panel appearance represents an important milestone in visibility within the Black energy professional community, while ongoing discussions signal long-term alignment with AABE’s mission.
ABFE Presents: Harambee 2025: "Let's All Pull Together"
The Harambee 2025 Annual Conference, themed "Let’s All Pull Together," was held from April 6 to 9, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities, this year’s conference convened over 1,500 Black philanthropic leaders, advocates, practitioners, and allies from across the U.S. and the broader African diaspora. As one of the most important convenings for Black-led philanthropy, Harambee has become a national platform for fostering collaboration, promoting Black leadership, and advancing strategies for racial and economic justice. The conference was not only a space for deep reflection but also one of celebration, unity, and forward-looking movement-building.
The word "Harambee," derived from Swahili and meaning "all pull together," captures the heart of the event’s purpose—uniting diverse leaders and institutions in shared action. Throughout the four-day conference, attendees participated in a broad range of programming, including keynote speeches, leadership development workshops, case studies, storytelling forums, and strategic discussions focused on community investment and systems change. Sessions tackled critical issues such as philanthropic accountability, intergenerational wealth building, and funding Black-led organizing. There was also a strong emphasis on innovation, power-sharing, and the use of culturally responsive frameworks in philanthropic practice.
A major theme of the 2025 convening was the call for transparency, trust, and accountability in philanthropy. Presenters emphasized the need to reimagine how funding decisions are made, who holds power in those processes, and how Black communities can co-lead the design of solutions that directly impact them.
Women's History Month Panel
As part of its continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the clean energy and sustainability sectors, Solar Stewards participated in Turner & Townsend’s Women’s History Month Panel held on March 25, 2025. The virtual event brought together thought leaders and industry professionals to highlight the role of women in shaping diverse, inclusive workplaces and communities. Dana was invited to join the panel to share her insights and experiences in advancing supplier diversity and leading with purpose-driven impact. The collaboration reinforced Solar Stewards' dedication to uplifting underrepresented voices and partnering with organizations that promote equity in professional spaces.
Planning for the event began in mid-March with a series of email exchanges and coordination calls facilitated by Wayne Lambert of Turner & Townsend. Dana confirmed her participation early on and engaged in multiple scheduling and planning discussions to align with fellow panelists, including Leslie Sun, Diana Nada, Elizabeth Velez, Angelina Ordonez, Fateh Ahmed, and Aisha Barnes. Prep sessions were organized to cover the flow of the panel, proposed questions, and talking points around topics such as the impact of DEI, supplier diversity, mentorship, leadership challenges, and workplace initiatives supporting women.
7skyline Energy Education Symposium 2025
The 7Skyline Energy Education Symposium 2025 was held on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the Desert Diamond Casino and Hotel, beginning at 10 am. The event provided an in-depth exploration of renewable energy, workforce development, energy efficiency, and the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority (TOUA) power grid. Tribal leaders and energy experts discussed renewable energy projects and the integration of energy solutions in tribal areas. The symposium included an array of speakers, panels, and discussions, addressing various aspects of energy resilience, tribal energy projects, and workforce development.
With strong event coordination led by Chairman Verlon Jose and General Manager Brian Fickett, the symposium featured a full agenda that flowed smoothly, highlighting critical themes in tribal energy advancement. The Lightning Round showcased insights from key energy stakeholders including Solar Stewards, DNV, and Schneider Electric, reinforcing the role of collaboration in clean energy solutions.
Highlights included the panel on "Overcoming Barriers to Tribal Renewable Energy Integration" and the keynote by Mark Kravitz, which emphasized actionable strategies for energy transition and local empowerment. Community-driven projects such as the San Xavier Street Light Project and the solar garden initiative by San Carlos Apache College demonstrated the tangible benefits of tribal-led energy solutions. The event concluded with a cultural performance and giveaways, honoring the Tohono O'odham Nation's heritage and setting a foundation for future partnerships focused on energy resilience and workforce development.
Emory’s 17th Annual Green Networking Night 2025
On February 13, 2025, Emory University hosted its 17th Annual Green Networking Night at the Piedmont Park Conservancy – Greystone. This event brought together over 60 alumni and professionals working in sustainability and green careers for an evening of informal networking with Emory undergraduate and graduate students. The event provided a unique opportunity for students to receive career, academic, and personal guidance in a relaxed, mixer-style environment. Attendees enjoyed locally sourced hors d’oeuvres while engaging in meaningful conversations with professionals across the green career spectrum.
The event was open to students from all disciplines, including liberal arts, law, public health, and business, and emphasized sustainability by encouraging guests to bring reusable water bottles and utensils. Green Networking Night continues to be a cornerstone event at Emory, made possible through the support of the Career & Professional Development Pathways Center, the Office of Sustainability Initiatives, the Emory Alumni Association, the Department of Environmental Sciences, the Goizueta Business and Society Institute, and the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health.
Clayton County Science & Engineering Fair
Dana served as a judge at the Clayton County Science & Engineering Fair on February 8th. Dana’s participation was an important opportunity to support youth in STEM and strengthen community connections in our headquarter state of Georgia. Solar Stewards shares Clayton County’s commitment to academic excellence and STEM education, and we were proud to support the county through this engagement.
Solar and Energy Loan Fund, Inc. (SELF)
SELF 10X Impact! Staff Retreat
Solar and Energy Loan Fund, Inc. (SELF) is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides affordable and innovative financing solutions for sustainable property improvements, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience. Its mission is to rebuild and empower underserved communities, particularly in low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods, by helping homeowners improve the safety, health, and quality of life in their homes while also lowering energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Led by Duanne Andrade T., CEO of SELF, the organization operates across several states including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, Arizona, and Alabama. SELF has established partnerships with 42 investors across six categories and continuously seeks low-cost, flexible capital from philanthropic, public, private, and impact investors to support its expanding efforts.
To date, the organization has leveraged $50 million in loan capital into $39.8 million in direct loans, maintained an average default rate below 2.5%, and helped clients achieve an average of 27% in energy savings. Approximately 74% of SELF’s clients are LMI individuals with poor credit scores, and the program has directly benefited more than 10,700 people while avoiding 3,933 cumulative tons of CO₂ emissions.
One of SELF’s recent milestones includes the SELF 10X Impact! Staff Retreat, held on January 23rd in Ft. Pierce, Florida, celebrating the organization’s continued growth and dedication to advancing clean energy and resilience in underserved communities. Representing Solar Stewards, Dana attended this retreat and deepened connections with this impressive organization.
