Browsing by Subject "energy burden"

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    Energy and Equity in the Twin Cities Workshop Summary Report
    (2022) Ries, Heidi; Nelson, Edwin; Chan, Gabriel
    The Energy and Equity in the Twin Cities Workshop, jointly convened in November 2021 by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment (IonE) and Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), fostered dialogue, collaboration, and new partnerships to drive local solutions promoting energy justice. This summary report is for people who are interested in learning about local efforts – including projects developed during the workshop – to build an equitable green energy future. It is also for people who are interested in organizing cross-disciplinary workshops rooted in equity and shared learning. The Energy and Equity in the Twin Cities Workshop sought to engage local organizations and communities that historically have been excluded from conventional energy policy convenings, which tend to cater to established experts rather than community leaders such as activists, artists, and storytellers. It also sought to engage those working to address household wellbeing and security. More specifically, the workshop aimed to advance conversation, connection, and solutions to energy injustice by building bridges between the still largely distinct fields of clean energy policymaking and frontline community advocacy.
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    Incorporating Renewable Energy Technology into the Minnesota Weatherization Assistance Program: Reducing Energy Burden Among Low-Income Households
    (2024-05-01) Carrera, Alexa
    Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations within the Minnesota Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) are not a new effort. In fact, this effort first began as a pilot program in 2020 and has been growing ever since. In the midst of the global energy transition, the Minnesota WAP stands as a pioneering force by aiming to make renewable energy technologies accessible to low-income households across the state. Over the past three years, the initiative has demonstrated a remarkable impact, yielding greater energy savings compared to traditional weatherization measures. Not only does this state-wide effort have the potential to alleviate energy burden among low-income households, but it also allows for increasing renewable energy accessibility for communities that have been traditionally underserved. As the momentum behind this innovative weatherization measure continues to build, there arises a need for a comprehensive understanding of the current challenges and opportunities for continued implementation of solar PV into Minnesota WAP. Through a series of twenty-one stakeholder interviews ranging from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, local WAP service providers, non-profits, state agencies, local government, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the private sector, this paper aims to examine the current landscape of renewable energy technology within WAP by understanding the challenges and opportunities associated with the effort and provide recommendations to relevant stakeholders on how to make this effort more efficient and seamless. Furthermore, this paper can help other WAP Grantees who are considering incorporating solar PV as a new weatherization measure.