Home > Journals > WMELPR > Vol. 41 > Iss. 3 (2017)
William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review
Abstract
This article examines the intersection of environmental justice (EJ) and the Clean Power Plan (CPP) by exploring how energy efficiency initiatives can simultaneously promote climate goals and address socio-economic inequalities. The Clean Power Plan, introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2015, sets carbon reduction targets for existing power plants, with potential benefits in public health and climate impact mitigation. However, the article highlights how marginalized communities are often disproportionately impacted by both pollution and the economic burdens of energy inefficiency. It critiques the CPP’s focus on carbon reduction as potentially neglecting broader justice issues, especially the distinct needs of low-income, racial, and indigenous communities. The Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP), a voluntary component of the CPP, is praised for incentivizing energy efficiency and renewable energy in low-income areas, but its limitations underscore the need for a more equity-focused approach in climate policy. The article recommends more inclusive energy planning, support for community-based energy projects, equitable cost-sharing for energy efficiency programs, and increased research into the racial and economic impacts of energy policy to ensure that climate action promotes both environmental and social sustainability.