Energy Access and Environmental Justice Karen Berger Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Rochester What are we currently doing? Teaching Environmental Justice: Interdisciplinary Approaches 15 April 2013

Framing the discussion What is environmental justice? EJ: “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Other definitions: Wikipedia, South African Environmental Justice Networking Forum,...

Framing the discussion “No person in the United States shall, on the ground or race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”- Civil Rights Act, Title VI What is discrimination? By intention or results? By measured exposure or predicted impact? How do you measure qualitative impacts? Why does it matter in an energy course?

Energy and environmental justice 1. Pollution exposure 2. Means for socioeconomic development 3. Infrastructure impacts

Energy and environmental justice 1. Pollution exposure 2. Means for socioeconomic development 3. Infrastructure impacts

Energy: pollution extractionproductionconsumptionwaste

Impacts from refineries Clean Air Act: 54% non-compliant Clean Water Act: 22% non-compliant RCRA: 32% violated Weighing the benefits: 1,000+ pounds pollution per job O’Rourke, D. and S. Connolly. “Just oil? The distribution of environmental and social impacts of oil production and consumption.” Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour :587–617.

Impacts from coal power plants Exposure / Impact Ratio of African Americans : White % of population living within 30 miles of a coal power plant 1.2 % of population living in a county that violates outdoor air quality standards 1.2 Asthma hospitalizations (per 10,000 population) 3.3 Asthma deaths (per 10,000 population)2.8 “Air of Injustice: African Americans and Power Plant Pollution” (2002)

Energy and environmental justice 1. Pollution exposure 2. Means for socioeconomic development 3. Infrastructure impacts

Energy for economic development “Ending poverty and ensuring sustainability are the defining challenges of our time. Energy is central to both of them.” – Jim Kim, President, The World Bank September 24, 2012

Access to high-quality energy  quality of life  economic development Access involves:  Affordability  Distribution  Reliability

Benefits of energy access Health Less drudgery Communi -cation Social status

Multiplier effects: human health Clean energy Improved air quality Safe drinking water Reduced food-borne illness Better medicine storage Easier access to sufficient food

Multiplier effects: education Cheaper/bette r lighting Enhanced productivity Access to information Extended workday More household time

Energy and environmental justice 1. Pollution exposure 2. Means for socioeconomic development 3. Infrastructure impacts

Energy-related infrastructure Siting of Refineries, power plants, disposal sites Pipelines Natural gas/oil wells Roads Public transportation

Case study: the pipeline’s path Pacific Pipeline – Bakersfield via Los Angeles Of 75 neighborhoods, 72 were higher minority population than CA average 42 had >90% minority population all had higher non-English speakers 62 had per capita income lower than national/city level O’Rourke, D. and S. Connolly. “Just oil? The distribution of environmental and social impacts of oil production and consumption.” Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour :587–617.

Case study: hydrofracking Beneficiaries: individual landowners At-risk: local community KEY QUESTIONS: Who benefits? Who is at risk? Who has the decision-making power?

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