Environmental Justice, Extreme Heat, and the Future of Energy Assistance Programs in the United States
An ELI Public Webinar
Heating and cooling energy costs put many households under tremendous financial pressure – especially during cold winters and increasingly hot summers. To address this threat to public health, various policies have been adopted across levels of government. At the state level, many have policies to prevent disconnections during specified temperatures and mandate ratepayer assistance programs. On a national scale, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers “federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.” Established in 1981 and administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP services target households with individuals whose health may be particularly vulnerable to inadequate heating and cooling, including disabled individuals, the elderly, and small children. However, the future of LIHEAP is uncertain; recent months have brought layoffs and funding freezes, and the federal FY 26 budget proposal eliminates funding entirely.
This webinar will explore the workings, impacts, and future of energy assistance policy in the United States. What risks does extreme weather pose to public health, and how might climate change exacerbate them and affect the demand for energy assistance? What is a state’s role in LIHEAP’s administration, and how does it interact with existing state energy disconnection and assistance policies? How would the elimination of LIHEAP funding impact states and communities, and what new policies might be developed in its place? Join the Environmental Law Institute to explore these questions and many more.
Panelists:
- Mark Templeton, Clinical Professor of Law; Director, Abrams Environmental Law Clinic, University of Chicago Law School, Moderator
- Wilfredo Cruz Jr., Executive Director, Community Resource Project
- Kelvin Fong, Assistant Professor, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
- Karen Lusson, Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
- Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, National Energy Assistance Directors Association