Energy Justice Glossary
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)
CCAs allow communities to bundle the local demand for electricity and buy supply to meet the community's demand. This allows any town to replace the utility company as the "default supplier." Community power provides residents with greater choice over their energy future, such as increased energy innovation and energy efficiency, while also potentially lowering electricity costs.
Electrification
Electrification refers to the process of replacing technologies that use fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) with technologies that use electricity as a source of energy. Depending on the resources used to generate electricity, electrification can potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation, building, and industrial sectors, which account for 65% of all US greenhouse gas emissions. (Resources for the Future)
Energy Burden
The percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs. According to DOE's Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool, the national average energy burden for low-income households is 8.6%, three times higher than for non-low-income households which is estimated at 3%. (U.S. Department of Energy)
Energy Justice
Refers to the goal of achieving equity in both the social and economic participation in the energy system, while also remediating social, economic, and health burdens on those historically harmed by the energy system. (Initiative for Energy Justice)
The Dartmouth Energy Justice Clinic recognizes 5 pillar of energy justice: recognition justice, distributional justice, procedural justice, restorative justice, and epistemological justice.
Environmental Racism
Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate exposure of communities of color and low-income communities to environmental hazards, such as pollution and toxic waste. This occurs when these communities are targeted for the location of polluting industries, waste facilities, and toxic dumps, leading to significant harm to the health and well-being of residents. It perpetuates existing health and economic disparities, and can lead to further marginalization of already vulnerable communities. Addressing environmental racism requires systemic changes to ensure that all communities have equal access to a healthy environment and a voice in environmental decision-making.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems. They work by transferring heat from the air or ground outside to the interior of a building, thus reducing the need for electricity to generate heat. This results in lower carbon emissions and a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional heating systems. Additionally, heat pumps can also provide hot water, further reducing the energy consumption of household appliances. (National Grid)
Mini Grids
A mini-grid is a set of small-scale electricity generators interconnected to a distribution network that supplies electricity to a small, localized group of customers. It usually operates independently from the national transmission grid. Renewable energy mini-grids, powered by solar, wind or hydro, are emerging as the superstars of energy access, particularly in rural areas, where they have become a viable option for providing reliable and high-quality electricity to rural populations and businesses. (UN Industrial Development Program)
Passive Solar Design
Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun. When sunlight strikes a building, the building materials can reflect, transmit, or absorb the solar radiation. Passive design typically includes South-facing windows, thermal chimneys, and natural ventilation. Such systems do not involve substantial use of mechanical and electrical devices, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar energy. (Adapted from Williams College)
Resident Owned Community (ROC)
Arrangements vary, but a ROC is a type of housing community where residents collectively own and manage the land on which their homes are located. Instead of renting from a landlord, residents purchase a share in a cooperative which gives them control over community decisions and regulations. This model promotes long-term affordability, democratic governance, and empowerment.
Lot Rent Credit
A financial credit applied to the monthly fee that residents pay to rent the plot of land on which their home resides. In the context of ROCs with solar infrastructure, revenue generated from the communal solar array is distributed among residents and applied as a credit to their lot rent. However, if their monthly rent increases by more than the credit applied to their account, their overall lot rent will still increase from the previous month, even though they are receiving a rent reduction.
Community Solar
Community solar is a shared renewable energy system where multiple people subscribe to or invest in a single, centrally located solar array. Instead of installing panels on individual roofs, participants benefit from power generated at the shared site. The electricity from the solar array is either used directly or exported to the electric grid. The amount of power the array produces—and the revenue from that power—is tracked and distributed among participants through a process called net metering, giving each member a monetary credit based on their share of the solar array. The specific interactions between the solar array, the utility, and the array’s owners can vary. The details for a particular community’s solar project are typically outlined in their Group Net Metering Agreement and Power Purchase Agreement.
Discount Rates
The rate of return used to discount future cash flows and net benefits back to their net present value to determine if an investment generates a positive return over its lifespan. Discount rates are used to evaluate whether energy programs are cost-effective. (State of New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission's Report on Energy Efficiency, Planning, Programming, & Evaluation)
Energy (In)security
Energy security is defined as as the uninterrupted availability of energy at an affordable price. At a system-wide level, it refers to the stability of energy infrastructure like fuel supply chains and the electricity grid. At the household level, it refers to consistent access to the energy needed for safety and wellbeing, including heating, cooling, and the operation of lighting and appliances without sacrificing other necessities such as rent, food, and medical care. (U.S. Department of Energy, IEA, Cook et al. 2018)
Energy Democracy
Communities should have the agency to shape their energy futures. Energy democracy pushes for the decentralization of energy systems and the expansion of public participation in energy-related policymaking. Energy democracy understands the transition to renewable energy to be an opportunity to redistribute political and economic power towards egalitarian ends. (Stephens 2019)
Energy Poverty
Refers to a lack of access to modern energy resources. According to the International Energy Agency on Energy Access, “billions of people continue to be without basic modern energy services, lacking access to either electricity or clean cooking facilities." Energy poverty impacts people in both developing and developed countries.
Epistemological (In)justice
Epistemological (in)justice refers to the devaluation of knowledge produced from groups that are discriminated against based on prejudices such as gender, social origin, race, and ethnicity. The concept of “epistemic injustice” explores the power and the ethics of knowing, including exclusion and silencing, systematic distortion or misrepresentation, undervaluing communicative practices, unfair distinctions in authority; and unjustifiable distrust. (Fricker 2007)
Hydropower
Hydropower is defined as power that is generated from the natural flow of water. It generated by the energy unleashed from the elevation difference of water flowing in vs out of the turbines in a dam/diversion structure. The turning turbines generate electricity.
Net Energy Metering
An on-site renewable energy system’s accounting “for the value of the electricity produced when production is greater than demand. Net metering allows customers to bank this excess electric generation on the grid, usually in the form of kilowatt-hour (kWh) credits during a given period. Whenever the customer’s system is producing more energy than the customer is consuming, the excess energy flows to the grid and the customer’s meter ‘runs backwards.’ This results in the customer purchasing fewer kilowatthours from the utility, so the electricity produced from the renewable energy system can be valued at the retail price of power.” (A Guide to Community Shared Solar)
Power Purchase Agreement
"An agreement between a wholesale energy producer and a utiltiy under which the utility agrees to purchase pwoer. The [Power Purchase Agreement] includes details such as the rates paid for electricity and the time period during which it will be purchased." (A Guide to Community Shared Solar)
Shared Solar
Shared solar, also known as community solar and community distributed generation, is the option for customers to purchase shares in or subscriptions to a local solar generation facility and to receive compensation such as a credit on their electricity bills. (Heiss and Lee 2020)
Utility Provider
A utility provider is a company that provides services, such as electricity, to consumers and manages the infrastructure needed to distribute these services, such as power lines.
Utility Payment
A utility payment is made by a household to a utility provider for a service, such as electricity. These payments are typically billed monthly and are on usage and service fees.
True-ups
True-ups are applicable when residents receive a fixed monthly lot rent credit based on the solar array’s estimated annual energy production. At the beginning of each fiscal year, a “true-up” is conducted to reconcile estimated production with the array’s actual output from the previous year. If the array overproduced, members receive a one-time, larger than usual, credit. If the array underproduced, members owe money to their ROC to account for having received more in credits than the value of the energy produced throughout the previous year. Because solar output varies due to weather and system performance, ‘true-ups' ensure that credits reflect the actual value of the energy generated.
Distributive Justice
Outcome focused view of justice; distributive justice speaks to whether the distribution of benefits and harms is equal within the energy system. (Adapted from Initiative for Energy Justice: The Energy Justice Workbook)
Energy Audit
An energy audit is conducted to determine the energy consumption and efficiency of a building and identify energy-saving opportunities. This includes assessment of the building's heating and cooling systems, insulation (including the basement and attic), and airtightness. Based on this assessment, the energy auditor will produce a report of energy efficiency recommendations to reduce energy consumption and costs, and improve comfort inside the home. (Just Energy)
Energy Efficiency
Using less energy to get the same job done – and in the process, cutting energy bills and reducing pollution. Many products, homes, and buildings use more energy than they actually need, through inefficiencies and energy waste. Energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to eliminate energy waste and lower energy costs. (Energy Star)
Environmental Justice
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. It refers to the idea that everyone should have equal access to a healthy environment and not be disproportionately affected by environmental harms. Environmental justice seeks to address historical and ongoing patterns of environmental discrimination and ensure that marginalized communities have a voice in environmental decision-making.
Frontline Communities
The communities who often experience the first and most severe consequences of climate change. In the context of energy justice, these groups are most adversely affected by the enduring energy system and resulting pollution. Frontline communities include, but are not limited to, communities of color, low-income communities, indigenous communities and communities placed near extractive energy production. (Adapted from Initiative for Energy Justice: The Energy Justice Workbook)
Just Transition
The energy transition away from an fossil-fuel economy towards a low-carbon, regenerative economy. A truly just transition will remedy the past harms of the fossil-fuel energy system, as well as other injustices of an extractive economy. Particularly, the "just transition" will look to center communities of color, indigenous communities, low-income communities, and other frontline communities in shaping and benefiting from policy. (Adapted from Energy Justice: The Energy Justice Workbook)
Net Zero
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance. (UN Net Zero Coalition)
Procedural justice
Who is at the decision-making table? Procedural justice focuses on process as opposed to outcome. It ensures the equitable engagement of all stakeholders regardless of background or identity. (Adapted from Initiative for Energy Justice: The Energy Justice Workbook)
Virtual Net Metering
“[V]irtual net metering allows net metering credits generated by a single renewable system to offset load at multiple retail electric accounts within a utility’s service territory. As with traditional net metering, credits appear on each individual customer’s bill.” (A Guide to Community Shared Solar)
Group Net Metering
An arrangement that allows multiple users to share the benefits of a single, central renewable energy system. The monetary value generated from the production of energy by the renewable energy system is distributed among group members based on prearranged contracts.
Group Net Metering Agreement
A Group Net Metering Agreement is a formal contract between members of a renewable energy system that defines the benefits, distribution methods, and responsibilities of each member. It outlines how money generated by the renewable energy system is allocated and managed among participants.
Net Metering 1.0
The original net metering system where individuals or communities with renewable energy systems receive credit for the excess electricity they send back to the grid at the full retail rate—the same rate they pay for electricity consumption. This means every kilowatt-hour (kwh) exported offsets a kwh consumed. However, net metering 1.0 policies vary between states due to state specific regulations and polices.
Net Metering 2.0
An updated approach that adjusts compensation rates to reflect the actual value of solar energy to the grid. Most Net Metering 2.0 programs incorporate Time-Of-Use (TOU) pricing, which means credit values vary depending on the time electricity is produced and consumed. However, this system requires more sophisticated metering and billing systems. Net metering 2.0 policies also vary from state to state.