Extreme heat, poor housing quality, and the heat island effect make it harder for many households to afford energy bills.

According to a brief by Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive, “A Brookings Metro report published Sept. 6 highlights that Black renters disproportionately experience energy insecurity, which stems from an inability to pay energy bills.” The findings reveal how climate change amplifies insecurities, pushing low-income renters already struggling to afford bills over the edge.
“The researchers’ analysis of 2020 data found that 59% of Black renters faced energy insecurity compared with 36% of White renters,” Kempe adds. “Furthermore, neighborhoods with more Black residents often face more intense heat island effects than other areas.”
The disparity extends to homeowners: “The report also found that 44% of Black homeowners faced energy insecurity in 2020, compared with 18% of White homeowners.”
According to Brookings Metro senior research associate Manann Donoghoe, “the first step cities can take involves considering how the history of racially biased policies has shaped where people live and their housing quality. Once local governments reckon with that knowledge, they should consider and implement policies that address the gaps for vulnerable neighborhoods, which will start with targeting, in many cases, Black-majority or minority-majority neighborhoods, he said.”
FULL STORY: Extreme heat disproportionately threatens Black renters, experts say

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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