Meet The Black Entrepreneur Bringing Clean Energy To Communities In Chicago
Chicago entrepreneur Arthur Burton is working to increase access to the clean energy sector by providing job training to youth in underrepresented communities.
Who is Arthur Burton?
After establishing his company in 2019, Arthur Burton has been committed to providing opportunities for members of disinvested communities by making training for green jobs more accessible.
Before launching his clean energy initiative, Burton focused on expanding his experience within the sustainability sector. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunications, the entrepreneur worked at AT&T for 18 years as a technical support manager before receiving the qualifications he needed to embark on his career in the solar and electric industry.
Burton always wanted to venture into the clean energy sector to offer a more specialized service to communities disconnected from the movement.
“Being able to offer these types of services in an underserved community,” said Burton in an interview. “I just thought it was a good opportunity for me to use my expertise to do something to give back and reduce the carbon footprint.”
Burton’s AMB Renewable Energy
Burton’s renewable energy organization, AMB Renewable Energy, has collaborated with various organizations, from EVMmatch to Switch Energy. The organization aims to develop projects in and around Chicago, including charging stations, solar panels, and other clean energy systems.
Burton believes building allies with different organizations hugely benefits the fight against climate change. Not only does it help educate disinvested communities, but it also makes sure proactive measures are put in place to make clean energy accessible for all.
“You can always reflect to climate change as a whole. You look at Antarctica, where your glaciers are melting at an enormous rate. You can look at some of the high wide waters that’s coming in because of the carbon footprint. These are some examples that’s globally wide that someone could see,” said Burton.
“But how does it affect your community? I think the key is to be more informed of sustainable energy and how you can benefit from it as a whole, as a family and a community.”
