The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, in partnership with Appalachian Voices and the North Carolina Justice Center, kicked off the Southeast Energy Insecurity Stakeholder Initiative with a virtual workshop in May 2021. The purpose of the Initiative is to facilitate a broad, collaborative discussion among stakeholders to explore opportunities for reducing energy insecurity in the Southeast.
The organizing team worked with an advisory board of energy insecurity experts from across the Southeast to help inform its work and lay the groundwork for the kickoff workshop. Moving forward, the team will facilitate a series of working groups to better understand challenges associated with energy insecurity and develop actionable steps to address them. The Working Groups are:
- Data Access and Improvement
- Awareness and Community Engagement
- Housing
- Programs and Access to Financing
- Systemic Change
- Utility Solutions
The Initiative seeks various people and organizations to be represented in the stakeholder process to inform development of relevant, collaborative solutions. Stakeholders might include:
- People who have had trouble paying their energy bills
- Those working with individuals who are directly impacted
- Utility representatives
- State and local decision-makers
- Representatives from state and local weatherization programs
- Religious, nonprofit, and community leaders
- Others impacted by energy insecurity
