Written by PNNL staff member Bethel Tarekegne leads the way for equity and energy justice in the new IEEE PES task force
by Staff Accomplishment at pnnl.gov
As equity and energy justice concepts are starting to guide important changes in energy system planning, policy, and regulation, it’s important to define the structural role of the electricity grid in this transformation and prepare a new generation of analytical models and industry guidelines. Energy equity recognizes that disadvantaged communities have been historically overburdened by pollution and lack of access to new energy technologies, energy-efficient housing, and transportation. Energy justice aims to integrate concepts of equity and fairness to provide marginalized groups with access to the full benefits of the energy system regardless of ability, race, or socioeconomic status.
National Laboratory, Tarekegne leads the power sector to a new frontier in integrating equity and energy justice. Tarekegne focuses her research on understanding the social impacts of renewable and distributed energy systems. She currently leads research projects on energy equity and justice and community-scale/household-level energy storage solutions. In addition to technology-based equity and energy justice studies, she leads broad equity and energy justice efforts, including advancing the application of equity and energy justice in power systems and grid planning through electric utility technical assistance.
The IEEE PES Equity and Energy Justice task force holds an important role in understanding and uncovering the impacts of the power sector on its customers and society at large.
“It’s critical to have a community of industry leaders engaged on the topic specifically when considering the level of impact the energy sector has on communities,” said Tarekegne.