The Energy Justice Lab is a research collaboration between Indiana University (IU) and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), co-directed by Dr. David Konisky of IU and Dr. Sanya Carley of Penn.
At the Energy Justice Lab, our research centers on the human dimension of energy systems as the world advances toward a clean energy future. We investigate how society can collectively achieve ambitious decarbonization goals while maintaining energy affordability and reliability—ensuring that the energy transition does not disproportionately burden specific communties, households, or individuals. Grounded in rigorous, unbiased empirical evaluation, our work bridges fundamental social science with applied policy, focusing on both the identification of underlying structural challenges and the development of policy and programmatic solutions.
Our team transforms data into actionable insight through open-access public resources and scholarship. Key outputs from our research portfolio include the Utility Disconnections Dashboard, which tracks utility shutoffs and state-level disconnection protections across the United States, as well as the co-authored book by our Lab directors, Power Lines: The Human Costs of American Energy in Transition. By pairing empirical evidence with a human-centered lens, we aim to inform policies that ensure a secure, fair, and sustainable energy future for all.
