Grantee Research Project Results

2023 Progress Report: The Role of State Networks in Advancing Community Initiated and Engaged Sustainable Energy Action in Underserved Communities

EPA Grant Number: R840557
Title: The Role of State Networks in Advancing Community Initiated and Engaged Sustainable Energy Action in Underserved Communities
Investigators: Klein, Sharon JW. , Noblet, Caroline L
Institution: University of Maine
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: June 1, 2023 through June 9, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2023 through May 31,2024
Project Amount: $1,125,000
RFA: Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities. (2022) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Endocrine Disruptors , Environmental Engineering , Environmental Justice , Social Science , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Water Quality , Tribal Environmental Health Research , Air

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to investigate the role of community, state and national networks through advancing community initiated and to create sustainable energy action in underserved communities.

Progress Summary:

Year 1 outputs from the Underserved Community, State, and National Studies include: draft Social Network Analysis (SNA) report; draft technical report about the internet search of statewide local energy action networks (LEANs) across the US and associated literature review; 7 educational energy workshops co-developed with and implemented in underserved communities in Maine; helped secure 6 state Community Action Grants for underserved communities and coordinate 5 inter-tribal federal grant submissions; launched a statewide survey about energy preferences, barriers & opportunities for underserved communities and a similar survey for the Wabanaki Nations.

Year 1 outcomes include: improved awareness for researchers and the members of the Community and Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Teams about the barriers, opportunities, and decision drivers for members of the communities involved in this research regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency (REE); improved understanding of the variety of LEAN-like entities that exist across the US and barriers and successes associated with the approaches used by these entities to support community-driven REE in underserved communities; improved risk management in Maine communities as they learned to address energy and climate issues and build resilience; increased adoption and diffusion of sustainable energy in underserved communities; more resilience against climate change; stronger community networks and elevated awareness of and action related to environmental justice, social justice, and energy justice issues.

Graduate students on the team are currently working on a PhD dissertation, two Master’s theses, two peer-reviewed journal articles, and two reports. Drafts of these documents are in progress. Additionally, on March 28th, 2024, the research team hosted an all-day session at the Maine Sustainability and Water Conference, which featured presentations on the EPA Star Grant work and officially launched MAINECAN to the public. Overall, the team delivered 17 presentations at conferences and 34 other presentations.

Future Activities:

Continuing annually for the remainder of the research project, the team will produce (and compare to prior years) a social network analysis report that maps connections between various entities in Maine working on community-led REE in underserved communities and identifies gaps for the new (created by this team) and growing Maine Energy and Climate Action Network (MAINECAN) to fill. A MAINECAN website will be launched and a regular series of communications set up to connect and engage members. An annual conference session will bring together MAINECAN members to share their projects, questions, concerns, and successes. Researchers will document field notes of the ethnographic research associated with building and studying the new network. The Community and Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Teams (2 teams of 7 underserved Maine communities and 5 Wabanaki Nations, respectively) will continue to meet monthly, be supported by the new Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Coordinator in advancing their REE goals, co-develop analysis of the 1st round of community and Wabanaki surveys and co-develop subsequent annual survey rounds, interviews, and educational workshops. The research team will continue to track projected emissions savings associated with REE initiatives the community and Wabanaki Team members pursue. The research team will continue to present their findings to local, state, national, and eventually international academic and non-academic audiences and work on publishing the research in public-facing technical reports, Master’s theses, a PhD dissertation, and peer-reviewed journal articles.

Supplemental Keywords:

Underserved communities - per EPA RFA: “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, including people of color, low income, rural, tribal, indigenous, and other populations that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks.” LEANS - networks with a statewide scope that provide tangible support through technical assistance, financing, information-sharing, peer-to-peer learning, coordinated engagement and action, etc. to local energy groups (LEGs) – municipal or small tribal governments, committees, or other citizen groups working to install REE (Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency) technology in their communities.

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2024

Final