Powering Just Energy Transitions: A Policy Perspective on the Justice Implications of Community Choice Aggregation

Keywords: community choice aggregation, energy justice, energy democracy, energy transition
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 29

Abstract

In response to the disparities and injustices that may result from the decarbonization of the energy system, a rich energy justice scholarship has emerged that engendered new frameworks to evaluate the energy transition through a justice lens. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is an alternative energy supply model to provide cleaner and more equitable energy as well as enhance local climate resilience. CCA is already serving more than 5 million customers across the U.S. and these programs are expected to expand in the following years. Scholars have evaluated CCA programs based on their contributions to procure renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the justice impacts of CCA remain vastly unexplored in the literature. In this policy perspective paper, we explore the potential justice implications of CCA across key energy justice themes. Although traditional CCA models (1.0) provide more affordable clean energy rates, most programs miss opportunities to support other equity issues that could contribute to a transformation of the energy system in which democracy and decentralization are emphasized. Emerging CCA models (2.0, 3.0) that are guided by principles of energy democracy and centered on community development may become a vehicle to achieve a just energy transition.