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Title: Scales of Solar: Balancing Benefits, Participation and Access in the Energy Transition

Abstract:

The transition to renewable energy presents both an opportunity to address longstanding energy injustices and a risk of perpetuating inequities. This dissertation examines how governance structures, community participation, and geographic proximity shape energy justice outcomes in community solar and large-scale solar (LSS) projects. It interrogates whether and how these projects advance distributional, procedural, and recognition justice, contributing to ongoing debates on equitable energy transitions.

The research is structured around three empirical studies, each addressing a critical dimension of energy justice in solar development. The first study analyzes a municipal utility-led community solar project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, assessing whether such programs deliver equitable energy benefits to low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. Using mixed methods—including phone surveys (n=44), interviews (n=9), and two years of electricity billing data—this study finds that under certain conditions, municipal-led community solar can significantly reduce energy burdens and enhance community engagement, even in states without enabling legislation. The findings highlight the potential for local governance structures to promote energy justice while also identifying barriers to participation, such as program awareness and enrollment complexity.

The second study evaluates an investor-owned utility (IOU)-administered community solar program, contrasting its procedural justice outcomes with those of the municipal model. Through pre- and post-intervention surveys and interviews, this study demonstrates that while IOU-led community solar provides financial benefits, it often lacks meaningful public engagement and procedural fairness. The findings suggest that centralized, non-place-based governance structures weaken procedural justice and limit community influence over program design, raising concerns about the ability of IOU-led models to equitably serve LMI households.

The third study broadens the analysis to large-scale solar (LSS) siting, using a national survey (n=979) to assess how public perceptions of procedural justice shape attitudes toward solar development. Employing a novel gap analysis framework, the study reveals significant mismatches between public expectations and actual experiences of engagement. It finds that the largest projects have the highest expectations for community participation. Moreover, while respondents generally hold moderate expectations for engagement, their perceptions of actual information sharing and outreach are extremely low, underscoring a critical gap in procedural justice. The findings contribute to policy discussions on improving community engagement in large-scale solar deployment.

Methodologically, this dissertation integrates case study analysis, surveys, regression modeling, and qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive assessment of energy justice. By comparing governance models and public perceptions across different scales of solar, it offers empirical insights into how energy justice can be advanced through intentional policy design and participatory governance.

The dissertation makes several key contributions. Empirically, it provides new evidence on the role of governance and participation in shaping community solar outcomes and public attitudes toward LSS siting. Methodologically, it demonstrates the value of mixed-methods research in energy justice studies, particularly in evaluating procedural fairness and engagement expectations. Policy-wise, it offers concrete recommendations for improving community solar access for LMI households, enhancing public engagement in LSS siting, and integrating community energy models into broader renewable energy transitions.

The findings underscore that renewable energy expansion alone does not guarantee energy justice. Rather, just outcomes depend on governance structures that prioritize community agency, accessibility, and procedural inclusion. As renewable energy deployment accelerates, ensuring that new energy systems do not replicate the exclusions of the past will require deliberate policy interventions, community-centered decision-making, and ongoing research into equitable energy transitions.

https://umich.zoom.us/j/95563315212 (password: JustSolar)