Washington, DC | The Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED) welcomes the introduction of the Energy Bills Relief Act (EBRA) as an important step towards delivering an energy system that serves the health and well-being of communities. Environmental justice communities (i.e., low-income communities and communities of color) in Minnesota and across the country lack access to safe, healthy, energy-efficient homes and face an unequal burden of rising energy costs.
Nationwide, energy costs place a disproportionate strain on low-income households, with burdens up to 13 times higher than for higher-income households. In Minnesota, low-income households spend as much as 9% of their income on utility bills, with some spending up to 18%. Additionally, low-income communities and communities of color face higher rates of disconnections from utilities. A 2024 study by the University of Minnesota found that households of color and those in substandard housing face disconnections at significantly higher rates than white households.
We know that the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), when delivered to households most in need, can lower energy burdens and reduce the health and safety risks associated with disconnections of energy services. The Energy Bills Relief Act (EBRA) expands and modernizes the WAP and LIHEAP. EBRA also restores community grants and tax credits that support energy-efficiency improvements and clean-energy projects in schools, churches, and households.
Communities should not have to choose between buying groceries, food, and heating their homes. Communities should not have to go into debt to pay off their utility bills. We urge Congress to develop long-term solutions to support renters, low-income households, and households of color by lowering their energy bills, preventing disconnections, and maintaining healthy, safe homes.
The Center for Earth Energy & Democracy (CEED) is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with grassroots communities across Minnesota, along with policymakers and researchers nationally, to advance education on climate, energy, and environmental issues—empowering all people to participate meaningfully in public decision-making. Please contact Ansha Zaman at azaman@ceed.org regarding any questions or comments on the statement above.