This article critically engages the lingering universalisms haunting literature on energy literacy by demonstrating the need to situate diverse forms of energy knowledge within local energy ecologies and by "pinning" the concept of energy literacy to energy vulnerability.Read more
This article begins with a discussion of the Vine Street Expressway being turned into a canal as a result of Hurricane Ida. It then goes on to express the need to protect the city from more horrific weather events on both a local and federal level. The article defines energy burden as "is...Read more
This artifact, created by the Philadelphia Water Department, is an explanation for the general public regarding PWD's settlement for the proposed rate increase (2021).
Along with lowering the proposed rate increase, the Public Advocate also propose a series of agreements related to...Read more
This article discusses the digital divide and how a vaccination have proven to increase it even more than the pandemic already has. It opens with by discussing Jeff Harris, 65, and how he was registered after a group of activists went door to door registering people. Harris explained that not...Read more
This artifact is the settlement agreement that PWD and Public Advocate reached, which is awaiting review by the Philadelphia Water Rate Board, which is the independent review board which sets PWD's rates. Along with lowering the proposed rate increase (to 10.2% for residential customers), the...Read more
Coming off our EVP group discussion on Friday (July 3rd) about the brand ambassadors that Solarize Philly uses, I was interested to see that The Energy Co-op had run a similar peer-to-peer...Read more
This artifact is apart of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's 2020 report on residential energy burdens in 25 metro areas. According to ACEE, "a high energy burden is considered to be above 6%, and a severe energy burden above 10%".
A quarter of low-income households...Read more
Comcast has announced that it plans to commit $1 billion dollars to its low-income Internet-Essentials program. This plan will be spread across ten years and includes investments in community Wi-Fi centers, donating laptops and computers to low-income families, grants for nonprofits, and...Read more
The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted 3-1 to terminate the shutoffs but put safeguards in place to protect the most vulnerable. According to the article, “The PUC’s order will still prohibit utilities from shutting off “protected customers” whose income is no more than...Read more
The Federal Reserve of Philadelphia looked at labor participation gaps between people with and without broadband access around the country.The Philly Fed found that there was a 17% gap in labor force participant rates beteween people aged between 25-54 who do and do not have a computer with...Read more