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EIC-19 Media Brief: September

The Energy in COVID-19 monthly research briefs collect the news read by our working group members. The fourth edition reflects topics of discussion as unfolding in headlines within the past month.

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EIC-19 Media Brief: July

The Energy in COVID-19 monthly Media Briefs collect the latest news read by our working group members. 

Energy in COVID Research brief July 31 2020

EIC-19 Past Meetings

This Text Artifact serves as a living record of the Energy in COVID-19 working group's past meetings.

Energy in COVID-19

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As the rhythms of everyday life, industry, and consumption shift in response to COVID-19, so too does energy.

Energy Transitions

Briana Leone

As the title of the work hints to, the text builds on discussions surrounding energy policy and energy investments. Throughout the work, Boyer (2019) discusses dimensions of energy transitions that range from job creation, forms of development (industry and otherwise). Most significant to take into consideration is the fact Boyer (2019) acknowledges energy development often occurs without at par social, political, and economic transitions. Boyer (2019) advances discussions of energy politics and transitions by highlighting the inherent problems energy transitions bring into communities where wind farm and green projects are envisioned. Here, we should note the impacts energy transitions may have on the most vulnerable populations, which have been and continue to be documented. In fact, it is documented that LMI communities tend to be least likely to sport energy-efficient, carbon neutral energy systems and appliances (Cluett et al., 2016; Elnakat, 2016; Kaza et al., 2014).

How do we move forward?

Briana Leone

This text is particularly exemplary in documenting local community antagonism to energy transitions as it recognizes small-scale intrusions green energy may introduce. This varies from loss of agricultural planes to loss of fishing potential, as noises created by aeolian energy production can disrupt wildlife and their habitats. It is important to consider details like these in what can be considered microcosms of life. However, the text does not widely address how to move past these intrustions. Questions that still linger are: How can the introduction of green (aeolian and other) energy avoid damaging such microcosms? How can energy prices be made accessible to everyone thanks to the introduction of green energy instead of being used as an excuse to increase energy prices? What understandings are green energy investors missing to carry forward beneficial green energy projects? And, a question that the author asks from the beginning: How can the introduction of green energy benefit those communities in which projects are carried out?