Juarez publishes report: Energy Burden and the Clean Energy Transition

Zully Juarez has authored a report for the Just Solutions Collective on Energy Burden and the Clean Energy Transition: Challenges and just solutions from energy assistance practitioners and advocates from around the country. This report shines a light on energy burden reduction as an important part of the clean energy transition. It examines fundamental inequities of our current energy landscape and the opportunities to address the issue while our nation considers changes to the power sector.

"As the primary author, I was given the opportunity to take on the task of researching our energy system (and all its complexities) to address energy burden reduction as an important part of the clean energy transition for environmental justice and climate justice. I have learned so much about why energy justice is a rising priority we should all be paying close attention to in our justice-centered work," Zully shared.

The report finds that without explicit action, low-and moderate-income (LMI) households, specifically low-income households, are likely to face increased energy burdens during the transition to a clean energy system. However, with adequate analysis and targeted programs and policies for LMI households, the energy transition is an opportunity to invest in reducing energy burdens systematically.

For these reasons, the Just Solutions Collective reached out to experts who work in low-income, BIPOC, and frontline communities across the country and asked their input on how to best address the energy burden to ensure the transition is equitable and just. Experts provided a wealth of important insight, expertise, recommendations, and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges with addressing the energy burden and accessing energy assistance.

This report’s primary purpose is to inform environmental and climate justice policy advocates, but can also be used by policymakers, utilities, energy practitioners, along with an inclusive public participation process, when making decisions about a clean energy future that centers communities most impacted by the fossil fuel industry and profit-driven IOUs.

Explore key findings, policy recommendations, a recorded webinar on the topic and the full report on the Just Solutions Collective website.