Who Carries the Burden? Unveiling Energy Inequity in Albemarle
A county-level exploration of residents most impacted by high energy costs and cumulative inequities in Albemarle County, and potential solutions.
This blog is adapted from C3’s press statement released 8/21/25
At the forefront of increasing energy demands and rising energy costs, fiscally supported by Clean Virginia The Community Climate Collaborative (C3), released a new report, Uncovering Energy Inequity in Albemarle: A County-Level Lens, analyzing energy burden within communities across Albemarle County. This report builds upon lessons learned in C3’s Charlottesville Uncovering Energy Inequity report, exploring Albemarle County’s unique challenges as a locality with deep wealth inequalities related to energy burden.
Maria Düster, C3 Climate Justice Policy Manager who led the study explains, "Energy affordability and security remain out of reach for many residents in Albemarle County. C3’s research reveals that over 5,600 households across the County struggle to keep up with their energy bills each month, a burden that falls heaviest on low-income families. We hope that the findings and recommendations in this report inspire meaningful action from the County that lowers household energy costs, increases access to clean energy, and invests in safe and affordable housing for everyone in our community."
“It’s a sobering truth that a lot of residents are facing extremely high energy burdens,” says Jala Tyler, Marketing and Outreach Manager at the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP).
As ongoing cuts to federal programs threaten household energy security, “The research that C3 has conducted shows us that the work we do at LEAP is more vital now than ever. We remain committed to continuing to support the community to ensure that households are able to live more comfortably, efficiently, and affordably.”
The report also addresses energy burden in the County within the broader cost-of-living crisis that is urgently growing for many Virginians. As community partner Steven Johnson, Co-Chair of Livable Cville states, "When most people hear about the high cost of living in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area, they think about things like housing, transportation, and child care. This report is commendable for providing a detailed, thoughtful analysis of the role that energy costs play in the lives of far too many residents of Albemarle County. Providing localized, evidence-based findings and recommendations is a crucial step towards identifying and implementing local solutions."
C3 will share more details and key findings from the Albemarle report and the soon-to-be-released Richmond Energy Burden Study at their upcoming webinar on September 24, 2025.
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About Community Climate Collaborative
The Community Climate Collaborative aims to bring communities together to lead on climate by working closely with schools, businesses, residents, and local governments to implement carbon emissions reductions, develop climate action plans, and enact equitable policies that accelerate climate action. Visit theclimatecollaborative.org.
