Dimensions of Justice in the U.S. Clean Energy Transition

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Although the rapid growth of renewable energy has improved certain aspects of the unequal distribution of benefits and burdens associated with energy production, it has also given rise to new conflicts and allowed historical patterns of discrimination to persist. This panel explores the conditions necessary to achieve equitable participation and access to energy resources, examining how current policies support—or fail to support—from three core dimensions of energy justice: procedural justice (first paper), recognition justice (second paper), and distributive justice (third and fourth papers). The four papers in the panel use a diverse range of methods to study the interplay between policy, participation, and impacts on marginalized communities across local and state jurisdictions in the U.S.

The topics and implications of this panel closely align with the conference theme, Forging Collaborations for Transformative and Resilient Policy Solutions, by critically examining ongoing inequalities in the energy sector. Through the perspectives of diverse stakeholders—including governments, project developers, local communities, utilities, and various social and demographic groups—this panel underscores the importance of inclusive and comprehensive collaboration in addressing these challenges and provides information for future evidence-based policymaking.

The first paper (Joohyun Ryu) examines the role of civic capacity in the siting of solar and wind farms across U.S. counties, employing spatial econometric models. The findings indicate that communities with greater access to human and financial resources tend to host smaller-scale power plants, both within their own jurisdictions and in neighboring areas. The second paper (S. Mohsen Fatemi) develops a comprehensive typology of state regulatory models across all 50 U.S. states, utilizing K-means clustering, statistical diagnostics, and machine learning techniques. This study identifies key factors influencing cluster membership, including clean energy ambition, state government ideology, and equity-oriented governance. The third paper (Aparajita Datta) analyzes the effects of welfare policies for energy consumption on racial minority groups using data from the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. The study finds that a low-income household energy assistance program does not lead to improvements in energy security and may perpetuate the marginalization of vulnerable populations. The fourth paper (Zhengyan Li and Shan Zhou) investigates how the impact of Renewable Portfolio Standards—a regulatory state policy mandating a certain share of renewables in electricity generation—varies across low-income and minority demographic groups.

The contribution of this panel is broadening energy justice literature by uncovering underexplored and often overlooked sources of injustice. The findings demonstrate how policy design and implementation often overlook issues of injustice and reinforce historical inequities. while also highlighting the potential for more resilient and sustainable policy approaches in the ongoing transition toward a low-carbon energy system.

Policy Area

• Natural Resource, Energy, and Environmental Policy

Secondary Policy Area

• Social Equity and Race

Chair

• Sanya R Carley, University of Pennsylvania

Discussant

• Elizabeth Baldwin, University of Arizona

Organizer

• Joohyun Ryu, University of Arizona

Individual Presentations

• Renewable Energy Siting in the US: How Civic Capacity and Diffusion Shape Energy Justice - Presenting Author: Joohyun Ryu, University of Arizona

• Setting the Stage for Energy Justice: Developing a State Regulatory Environment Typology for Utility Planning - Presenting Author: Mohsen Fatemi, University of Kansas

• Race and Energy Insecurity: Are Persistent Inequities an Unintended Consequence of Home Energy Assistance Programs? - Presenting Author: Aparajita Datta, University of Houston