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Pathways to an Equitable and Just Energy Transition Principles, Best Practices, and Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: Proceedings of a Workshop (2023) / Chapter Skim
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4 Energy Affordability and Burdens
Pages 22-27

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From page 22...
... The speakers were David Nahai, Nahai Consulting Services and LADWP (retired) ; Gregory Pierce, University of California, Los Angeles; Destenie Nock, Carnegie Mellon University; and Sacoby Wilson, University of Maryland.
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From page 23...
... Local and statewide mandates for renewable energy have helped spur progress toward this ambitious goal, but achieving it will require substantial additional investment, significant updates to and deployment of renewable energy sources, grid modernization, higher levels of energy efficiency, and more support for EVs, as documented in LADWP's Strategic Long-Term Resource Plan.2 Nahai stressed that while rate increases may be inevitable in funding these investments, they must be structured equitably so as to avoid overburdening communities such as low-income customers and seniors living on a fixed income. Beyond energy rates, he added that energy efficiency programs, such as community solar projects, should specifically favor disadvantaged communities.
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From page 24...
... Energy poverty encompasses both energy burden and energy insecurity, as well as supply concerns. Nock posited that no single metric captures energy poverty, but approaching the question from multiple angles can help identify households that are energy poor and guide approaches to ensure that they are not left behind in the energy transition.
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From page 25...
... ADVANCING ENERGY JUSTICE Wilson outlined four pillars of energy justice: healthy and sustainable energy production; clean energy infrastructure, especially for those historically denied it; affordable energy; and uninterrupted service.8 Noting that the burdens of fossil fuel infrastructure, extraction, emissions, transport, processing, combustion, and waste fall disproportionately on dis­ advantaged communities and communities of color,9,10 he said that energy justice recognizes the right of those most impacted to be involved in the energy transition to ensure procedural equity, while distributional justice requires that they also benefit from the transition. "To think about energy justice, we need to move away from dirty energy infrastructure to clean energy infrastructure, and those who are disproportionately impacted by the legacy and the history and the current dirty energy infrastructure, they should be at the front of the line to get the clean energy infrastructure, and a higher proportion of it," said Wilson.
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From page 26...
... Wilson pointed to examples in which com­ munities have rejected projects that did not promote energy justice; communities are also increasingly taking a lead role in conducting ­ research to better understand health impacts. Looking ahead, Wilson suggested prioritizing energy justice in policy initiatives in several key areas, including port electrification; climate mitigation and resilience; community solar projects; access to and incentives for EVs, chargers, and green infrastructure; and equitable workforce development -- as well as funding mechanisms to sustainably support these efforts.
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From page 27...
... Wilson replied that the judicial history and recent rulings suggest this would be challenging, although the National Environmental Policy Act may provide some options. He suggested that communities should approach such events on a case-by-case basis, noting that such events would further delay the energy transition and impose greater environmental burdens on affected communities.
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Key Terms

  • energy transition
  • energy justice
  • energy infrastructure
  • energy affordability
  • clean energy

  • renewable energy
  • energy insecurity
  • destenie nock
  • energy sources
  • dirty energy

  • equitable energy
  • energy burdens
  • energy burden
  • energy sovereignty
  • energy efficiency

  • solve energy
  • community solar
  • people feel
  • demand curve
  • advantaged communities

  • greenhouse gas
  • solar projects
  • gas reduction
  • technology deployment
  • encourage energy

  • energy challenges
  • polluting energy
  • captures energy
  • energy production
  • energy research


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