EnvAns Season 2. Episode 01. "Elements of Energy Equity "

What does energy equity really mean, and who pays the price when access to safe, affordable energy is out of reach? In this episode, we sit down with Diana Hernández, a pioneering sociologist and leading voice on energy insecurity in the United States. Dr. Hernández is a tenured Associate Professor and Founding Principal Investigator of the Energy Equity, Housing and Health Program at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, co-Director of the Energy Opportunity Lab at the Center on Global Energy Policy, and a 2025–2026 Climate Justice Fellow at Harvard University Radcliffe Institute. Together, we explore how energy insecurity intersects with housing, health, climate justice, and public policy. Dr. Hernández shares insights from her groundbreaking research and discusses her book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy, which examines the lived realities of families struggling to maintain access to energy in America. From utility shutoffs and extreme heat to community resilience and policy innovation, this conversation challenges us to rethink energy not simply as infrastructure, but as a fundamental issue of equity, dignity, and public health. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in sustainability, climate justice, energy policy, housing, and the human dimensions of the clean energy transition. #environmentalanswers #energy