OPINION: Beyond lip service: It’s time to measure equity in clean energy investments

By Justin B. Schott | July 9, 2021 Imagine an aspiring Olympian training to contend for a medal, but being deprived of a stopwatch until after the race began. That is the current state of measuring equity in clean energy programs—we are running blind and overdue for a more systematic approach.  On a positive note,Continue reading “OPINION: Beyond lip service: It’s time to measure equity in clean energy investments”

U-M Energy Equity Project Partners in Developing Inclusive Decarbonization Policies for the Future

By Haley Riley, MS Candidate | May 27, 2021 The Biden administration’s recommitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change has inspired experts and organizations focused on net-zero energy production to plan for the implementation of decarbonization technologies. On May 25-26, the School for Environment and Sustainability joined a workshop for stakeholders, including modelers, analysts, andContinue reading “U-M Energy Equity Project Partners in Developing Inclusive Decarbonization Policies for the Future”

U-M Energy Equity Project to Develop First Standardized Tool for Driving Equity in Clean Energy Industry

ANN ARBOR—Despite widespread calls for a just transition to cleaner, more resilient energy systems, there isn’t a standardized measurement framework for evaluating the equity of clean energy programs. As a result, utility administrators, regulators, and energy advocates have been judging equity on an ad hoc basis. The Urban Energy Justice Lab at the University ofContinue reading “U-M Energy Equity Project to Develop First Standardized Tool for Driving Equity in Clean Energy Industry”

Group lays groundwork for equity metrics framework

In 2018, about 40 people gathered to lay the groundwork for development of a standardized approach to collecting, reporting and utility demographic variables to improve equity in clean energy programs.  Coming out of that gathering, several staff from VEIC, Efficiency for Everyone, Urban Institute, GHHI, and Energy Trust of Oregon took on 3 tasks:  1) Identify modelContinue reading “Group lays groundwork for equity metrics framework”