Energy Equity | Chan Lab

Energy equity aims to ensure that all communities, especially underserved and marginalized ones, have fair access to sustainable energy sources.

Our research in this area has focused on a broad set of projects involving methodological development for energy justice, equity in grid services, low-income weatherization and energy assistance programs, and low-income community-shared solar projects. These efforts are integral to creating a more inclusive and fair energy system. Additionally, we are actively involved in regulatory processes, contributing to docket comments and engaging at the policy level to advocate for equitable energy solutions and drive impactful change.

Current Projects

Energy Justice

Do renewable energy systems amplify inequality? Why do some communities oppose local energy projects? And how can the energy transition give individuals greater agency over their energy resources? We probe these questions, exploring equity and justice in today's energy context.

Weatherization and Energy Assistance

The Chan Lab works with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to utilize data-driven approaches to reach underserved families to improve outreach and uptake of federal energy assistance and weatherization programs.

Community-Shared Solar

The Chan Lab works with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to help identify and examine community-Shared Solar (CSS) projects and programs. CSS is an emerging approach to deploying solar energy that promises to expand the market for solar by allowing a group of electricity customers without roof space or access to capital to own, finance, or lease a share of an offsite, centralized solar facility.

Selected Publications

Arent, William, Bhavin Pradhan, Matthew Grimley, Gabriel Chan. 2026. "Redlined and disconnected: Historic housing discrimination and modern-day energy insecurity disparities in Minnesota's Twin Cities." Energy Research & Social Science 135: 104689.

Pradhan, Bhavin, and Gabriel Chan. "Minnesota’s energy paradox: Household energy insecurity in the face of racial and economic disparities." The Electricity Journal 37, no. 6 (2024): 107423.

Gabriel Chan and Alexandra Klass. 2022. “Regulating for Energy Justice.” New York University Law Review 97(5): 1426-1506.

Matisoff, Daniel C., Ross Beppler, Gabriel Chan, and Sanya Carley. "A review of barriers in implementing dynamic electricity pricing to achieve cost-causality." Environmental Research Letters 15, no. 9 (2020): 093006.

Bridge over the Mississippi River near Minneapolis, MN