RFF Live | Exploring Detroit’s Innovative Model for Tackling Energy Insecurity

Energy insecurity is a pervasive problem in the United States, affecting 25% of households. Families and individuals facing energy insecurity often experience difficulty affording energy bills, reduce or forego basic necessities like food and medicine to pay an energy bill, and/or keep their home at an unsafe temperature because of energy cost concerns.
Households that identify as Black and/or Hispanic continue to face energy insecurity at disproportionately higher rates (35%) than white and Asian households (20%). Achieving an equitable and just climate transition requires tackling energy affordability and security in tandem with decarbonization policies. In Detroit, city leadership, NGOs, university researchers and communities have joined together to develop and test innovative approaches to delivering services that improve home safety, efficiency, and affordability for low-income households.
On May 23, Resources for the Future (RFF) hosted "Exploring Detroit’s Innovative Model for Tackling Energy Insecurity," the fifth webinar in RFF's 2024 Exposure event series focused on environmental justice. This virtual panel discussed how these partnerships came together, what has and hasn’t worked, how other communities can replicate Detroit’s successes, and the role of public-private partnerships in advancing community-centered climate solutions.
Speakers:
- Joshua Elling, Jefferson East, Inc.
- Dr. Johanna Mathieu, University of Michigan
- Heather Zygmontowicz, City of Detroit
- Dr. Tony Reames, University of Michigan (Moderator)