Keeping climate solutions fair
Cecilia Martinez strives to ensure justice in a clean energy future

Low-income families already spend a disproportionate amount of their incomes on energy costs. When global warming emissions become regulated and producers are required to pay for their pollution, energy costs may also increase. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that a 15 percent reduction in emissions would come with an average annual energy cost increase of $750–$950 for the poorest one-fifth of the population. Fresh Energy is committed to ensuring that low-income households are not unfairly burdened by higher energy costs.

Making policy work for everybody

In its report, “A Climate Policy Challenge: Minimizing Impacts on Low-Income Iowans,” the Iowa Policy Project identifies six “low-income friendly principles for climate change policy”:

• Higher energy costs should be fully offset for people in the lowest income quintile, and meaningful relief should be provided to those in the second quintile
• Assistance should reach as close to 100 percent of low-income households as possible
• Larger households should get more assistance than smaller ones
• Help should not be targeted on energy bills alone
• Delivery mechanisms should be highly efficient
• Assistance should get bigger as emissions controls get stronger

In Minnesota, global warming emissions are likely to be regulated within the next two years. Dr. Cecilia Martinez brings a justice-conscious voice to the conversation. “We need to change the mind-set of our current discussions on global warming policy,” Martinez said. “In Minnesota, we focus on an economic and technological fixes, but we must not ignore the impact this is going to have on those less economically well off.”

Solutions for Minnesota

Martinez is a senior policy fellow at the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research at the University of Delaware and a consultant to the Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota’s Global Warming Working Group. She has performed extensive research on the effects of policy on low-income individuals. Martinez said the consideration of policy options to mitigate global warming pollution must include planning to assist the people who will be most negatively impacted by rising energy prices. Solutions to climate change should not result in an increased financial burden on those least responsible for contributing to the problem.

Martinez proposes using a portion of the state revenue created by regulating pollution to lessen the effects of higher energy costs on low-income households. This can be done in a combination of ways, including increased energy assistance payments and targeted rebates for conservation investments such as purchasing energy-efficient appliances.  

Dr. Martinez is currently working on a publication titled, “An Analysis of Community Health and Climate Change: Climate Justice in Minnesota.” Her work aligns with the mission of the Global Warming Working Group—providing a venue for people of color and low income communities to “engage, network and be empowered for self-advocacy around climate change impacts/solutions.” “We need active participation from all communities so these policies don’t create social problems for years to come,” Martinez said. “Shifting our discussion will help us get away from yet another vicious cycle of inequality.” 

Support this service! Become a member of Fresh Energy.

Fresh Energy works daily for smart energy policies and regulations that enhance our economies, protect human health and communities, restore our environment, and move us toward energy independence. www.fresh-energy.org