Dartmouth Students, Faculty, and Community Partners Investigate Energy Insecurity in the Upper Valley

A concerning picture of energy insecurity is emerging in the Upper Valley region of New England, where residents are struggling with the intertwined costs of energy, housing, transportation, and food.

Dartmouth students Ella Briman '25, Piper Edwards '25, and Arshi Mahajan '27, working with Dr. Sarah Kelly, Research Scientist and leader of the Energy Justice Clinic and Professor Jennifer Jerit in the Department of Government, have spent the last two years working with local energy service organizations and energy-burdened Upper Valley community members to better understand how energy insecurity influences individuals.

"What's striking is the constant tension people live with, knowing one unexpected expense could throw everything off," says Ella Briman. "We hope that our work can inform policies that don't force individuals to make these impossible tradeoffs between food and thermal comfort and alleviate the strain on already stretched local support networks."

The team's research highlights the urgent need for streamlined assistance programs to provide effective support to community members. Continued research and collaboration between academic institutions, local organizations, and community members are needed to understand the depth of need and forge connections to address this pressing issue.

Read the team's report to learn more: Energy Insecurity in the Upper Valley: A Mixed Methods Investigation (pdf)