UNCOVERING THE INTERSECTION OF ENERGY BURDEN AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

This study aims to identify energy burden disparities within Durham County, where many low-income households spend over 6% of their income on energy costs. Using the DOE's LEAD data tool and Environmental Justice indicators, census tracts in Durham are analyzed, revealing a geographic range of energy burden from 2%-18%. The surprising finding is that some census tracts with the highest energy burdens have the lowest Environmental Justice Index rankings, making them ineligible for federal assistance. This mismatch is evident in neighborhoods such as West End, Lyon Park, and Morehead Hill, and the communities most affected are Black, Hispanic, and low-income. The thesis highlights the need for more detailed local data to explain energy burden disparities, and the potential value of including energy burden metrics in environmental justice indicators to create more inclusive policies. Developing energy-specific criteria can also help address the energy insecurity and environmental justice concerns of targeted communities.