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A movement to decentralize the energy system by centering communities in the ownership and access of clean, affordable energy.
Energy democracy is important because the current energy systems in the U.S. are primarily controlled by investor-owned utilities (IOUs), which are privately owned entities focused on maximizing shareholder profits. This private structure often sidelines public input and favors powerful interests, such as the fossil fuel industry. Energy democracy aims to empower communities to have a say in shaping a more resilient energy future, offering alternative utility structures that may not guarantee clean and affordable energy access but allow for direct public input and community advocacy for the type of power they desire.
Energy-efficiency programs only served about 5% of income eligible households in 2019
Only 13% of electric and gas utility energy efficiency spending is spent on income eligible programs despite 27.5% of the population being income eligible
Participation in energy efficiency programs is growing for income-eligible households (1.7 million in 2019 compared to 362,000 in 2015)
Approximately one-quarter of utilities are consumer-owned, including cooperative utilities owned by local communities and publicly-owned utilities operated by the government as nonprofits. These types of utilities are more inclined to embrace renewable energy and typically offer lower utility rates.
Climate Justice Alliance
Energy Democracy represents a shift from the corporate, centralized fossil fuel economy to one that is governed by communities, is designed on the principle of no harm to the environment, supports local economies, and contributes to the health and well-being for all peoples.
Local Clean Energy Alliance
Energy Democracy means a decentralized energy system, one characterized by social and community-based control and ownership of energy resources
Emerald Cities Collaborative
Check out the Energy Democracy Scorecard curated by the Emerald Cities Collaborative that assesses key principles including social justice, regenerative energy systems, moral economy, and co-governance to determine how well energy democracy is being achieved in your community.
Energy Democracy Project
The Energy Democracy Project and partners developed this zine to break down Energy Democracy.
Audrey Henderson, Energy News Network
The ‘Community of the Future’ is being designed in Bronzeville. The local utility, ComEd and the Department of Energy are building a microgrid in Chicago’s ‘Black Metropolis.' Learn more about Bronzeville in the full Energy News Network article by Audrey Henderson.
Union of Concerned Scientists
Taller Salud, a community-based non-profit in Loíza, who teamed up with Afro-Puerto Rican female leaders to create a recovery plan for the community. Despite being abandoned by the federal government, the residents of Loíza never gave up. They came together to provide food, water, and support the community. Learn how Taller Salud is building resilience through Afro-Puerto Rican female leadership and knowledge in this article by Juan Declet-Barreto.
Energy Democracy Project
This Congressional Briefing brings critical community knowledge, leadership and specific energy democracy solutions to the numerous climate and clean energy legislative proposals being advanced. The Mountain Association, Indigenous Goddess Gang and the Local Clean Energy Alliance will provide opening remarks followed by a panel of community, labor and legal advocates, practitioners and scholars.
The New York Energy Democracy Alliance (NYEDA) is a statewide alliance of community-based organizations, grassroots groups, and policy experts working together to advance a just and participatory transition to a resilient, localized, and democratically controlled clean energy economy in New York State.
The Energy Democracy Project is a collaboration of more than 30 diverse, local, frontline organizations across the U.S. to strengthen their collective efforts to democratize energy and advance the emerging energy democracy movement in the United States.
Energy bills are 3x higher in climate-impacted communities.
A movement to decentralize the energy system by centering communities.
The empirical and qualitative measurement of access to the energy system to prioritize the inclusion of climate-impacted communities.
Achieving just social and economic participation in the energy system, while remediating social, economic, and health burdens in climate-impacted communities.
A set of social, economic, and environmental principles established at the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit.
A vision of quality, safe, and affordable housing combined with social programs to address houseless experiences to ensure everyone has a home, regardless of race, income, or citizenship status.