Energy Equity Self-Assessment for States

Customizing approaches to meet unique local needs and goals

Illustration of teamwork, people putting together puzzle pieces

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States are increasingly considering energy equity as a component of their policymaking. Equity goals may arise as a result of legislation, regulation, advocacy, or other channels. In some cases, the steps to achieve energy equity goals or targets may be complex or initially unclear. To help regulators identify a clear pathway to implement policy targets or mandates, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) researchers have provided a self-assessment tool.

Recognizing that each state has varying needs, goals, and approaches around energy equity, this tool is intended to help decision-makers identify the solutions that can be successful at the local level.

Get the Self-Assessment Tool

Who Can Benefit from this Self-Assessment?

The assessment is intended to be most helpful for state energy regulatory staff at a public utility commission, as well as other participants in the regulatory process. This can include utilities and their customers, as well as other organizations that work on energy policy and regulation.

This tool’s primary purpose is intended as a conversation starter for utility commission staff and those process participants about a state’s progress toward energy equity policy goals and potential next steps. To help facilitate the public conversation, suggested discussion questions are included in the assessment. Discussions might uncover what actions states can be working on to meet their broader equity goals and where gaps may exist in current programming.

All actions in the assessment are based on steps that states have taken since 2020, drawing from a previous study conducted by PNNL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Source materials provided for each activity can serve as an entry for states that may want to consult with others or model their actions on those that have already been implemented elsewhere.

The assessment arranges actions that state energy regulatory agencies can consider toward energy equity. Actions are grouped into “swim lanes” of related activities, with categories like outreach and transparency. Within each lane, actions are arranged in a general left-to-right progression that indicates how certain actions can lead to others.

Energy equity is a rapidly evolving field. Users of the assessment will likely identify new actions or questions not covered in the assessment. Feel free to provide your insights and suggestions for improvement.

Where Is Our State on the Range of Energy Equity Approaches?

As state agencies work with their stakeholders to examine various approaches to achieving energy equity goals, many states may benefit from understanding the potential range of energy equity approaches that regulators can take, as well as where they currently sit in that range. As regulators and other process participants begin to examine the various policies and actions available, it is helpful to know what their starting place is—and what a progression can look like.