Energy inequity variation across contexts

Abstract

This paper presents a framework to identify which household-energy outcomes are more likely to display injustice. Inequity is more likely when variation is pronounced at the lower end of wealth distributions. This paper compares solar-panel uptake with four other energy outcomes using the 2019 American Housing Survey. Analysis shows that solar-panel uptake in the United States has mainly been by high-wealth homeowners, across racial groups. Housing wealth explains around 37% of the solar-uptake difference between “Black alone” and other homeowners. In contrast, there are large racial differences for having washing machines or dryers. In addition, uncomfortably cold home temperatures and broken equipment are more likely for “Black alone” homeowners. Similar patterns are mostly observed for renters. However, “Black alone” households in public housing may have been less likely to benefit from solar panels than other public-housing tenants. There are three main implications. Solar policies targeting low wealth, rather than income, have greater potential for reducing racial inequality. Also, policymakers could focus more on equality in solar-panel access for public housing. Further, there are larger racial differences to address in non-solar contexts.