Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

The Precourt Institute for Energy is part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Energy Equity & Just Transitions

Main content start

Providing access to sustainable and reliable energy services to the billions of people now living without them is an enormous goal. Meanwhile, low-income communities – whether in poor countries or in poor areas of rich countries – have suffered disproportionately from the detrimental effects of current energy systems. These communities must benefit environmentally from more sustainable energy systems. They also should benefit economically from the jobs and careers created by the energy transition. In one research project, a tool pioneered at Stanford to better evaluate anti-poverty policies showed the economic benefits of expanding electricity access. Another examined the ineffectiveness of income tax incentives for solar power in low-income communities and suggested greater use of a different incentive.