Breaking the Cycle: The Need for an Equitable Clean Energy Transition
The inequalities we see throughout society are deeply ingrained in our current energy system. Low-wealth communities, rural areas, Black, Indigenous, and communities of color are often on the front lines of climate impacts—from the damage caused by extreme weather events to the long-term health effects of pollution and the economic burden of high utility bills. These communities, despite being most affected, are often the least empowered to influence energy policy or benefit from the clean energy transition.
This inequity in our energy system isn’t just an unfortunate byproduct; it’s a cycle that reinforces itself. Communities that bear the brunt of climate change also struggle with higher energy burdens, lack of access to clean energy, and inadequate infrastructure. In turn, they have fewer resources and opportunities to participate in the energy decisions that directly affect their lives and are then poorly represented in the outcomes. Breaking this cycle requires centering these communities in the clean energy transition, and one of the most effective ways to do that is through local solar solutions.
The Energy Burden Disparity
Right now, thirty-eight percent of the country is struggling with a high or severe energy burden – paying an unsustainable portion of their income to meet basic energy needs. Energy burden – the percentage of household income spent on energy costs – is disproportionately higher in low-wealth and marginalized communities. Households in these communities spend a much larger share of their income on utilities than wealthier households, leaving less room for other essentials like healthcare, education, and food. This burden is compounded by the fact that many of these homes are less energy efficient due to older, poorly insulated buildings, making it even harder to reduce costs.
Meanwhile, wealthier households are more likely to have access to energy-saving technologies and renewable energy options like rooftop solar. The gap between those who can afford to lower their energy bills through clean energy investments and those who can’t is widening — reinforcing inequalities.
The Potential of Local Solar Solutions
Local solar solutions, like community solar projects and distributed rooftop systems paired with batteries, offer a powerful way to address these disparities. These projects generate clean energy in or near the communities they serve, providing immediate environmental, economic, and social benefits. Simply put, local solar allows the communities most affected by energy burdens and climate change to be part of the solution.
Community solar, for example, allows residents to subscribe to a share of a local solar farm, receiving credits on their utility bills without the upfront costs of installing solar panels on their homes. This model is especially impactful in low-wealth communities, where lower homeownership rates, financial barriers, and roof and structural integrity prevent households from accessing traditional solar options.
Programs that prioritize equitable access to solar also generate local jobs, reduce pollution, and strengthen the community’s resilience to climate impacts. Moreover, local solar projects can be designed in partnership with the communities they serve, ensuring that the benefits—economic savings, environmental improvements, and decision-making power—flow directly to those who need them most.
Centering Communities in the Clean Energy Transition
True energy justice means giving frontline communities not only access to the benefits of clean energy but also a way to provide input in shaping our clean energy future. Local solar solutions are a key strategy in this, but they are just one piece of a larger puzzle. We need state and national policies that prioritize equity in energy planning, incentivize investment in underserved areas, and ensure that frontline communities have a seat at the table.
The impact of centering communities in clean energy advocacy is clear. In New Jersey, Vote Solar built and served as a leader in the New Jersey Shines coalition – made up of community-based, social justice, environmental, industry and faith organizations – all working together to drive solar as a solution for climate, environmental injustice and economic inequity. This coalition was founded to help establish an effective community solar program, and has developed its shared vision and technical policy expertise to advise the state on its path to 100% clean energy. New Jersey Shines successfully drove the creation of a state Office of Clean Energy Equity, solved a technical challenge to low-income serving community solar by establishing a streamlined system for income qualification, and securing a permanent community solar program. With each successive campaign, the coalition and its individual groups, including environmental justice organizations, have built more political power in the state capital and honed their policy and regulatory knowledge, influencing more equitable energy reform.
A Path Forward
We are at a critical juncture in the fight for climate justice. The clean energy transition offers an unprecedented opportunity to correct the systemic inequalities embedded in our energy system. But without intentional action, the benefits of this transition could bypass those who need them most.
By prioritizing local solar solutions, we can not only address the immediate needs of low-wealth communities but also empower them to shape their own, and all of our, energy future. This is the path to true energy justice and a safe climate—one where everyone has access to clean, affordable energy, and no community is left behind.
It’s time to break the cycle. Let’s ensure the energy transition is not just clean, but equitable.