Ricky Junquera, ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org
Robynne Boyd, rboyd@greenlinkanalytics.org
JACKSONVILLE, FL - A new report out today from Greenlink Analytics shows a large disparity between the energy burden faced by different communities across Jacksonville, from a low of 1.7% to as high as 13%. Energy burden is the percent of income spent on electricity and gas bills. The national average percentage of household earnings going towards energy costs is roughly 4%.
“While statistics show improvement on energy burden as a whole in Duval Country and its surrounding areas, in the Black and/or African American communities the burden is still extremely high and calls for a change so that all communities can have access to improved energy-efficient quality of life,” said Steven Johnson, Community Activist for Duval County and Jacksonville resident of over 20 years. “I’ve seen families have to make that decision of choosing what to go without in order to get by, and we need to ensure people’s comforts are not taken away and for granted. JEA and our city leaders need to do more to provide energy efficiency programs for lower-income earning homeowners and renters. Unless they focus on breaking the energy burden cycle, nothing will change.”
“JEA has an opportunity to really create positive change in outcomes for residents of Jacksonville by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said Logan Cross, Chair of Sierra Club Florida’s Jacksonville Group. “JEA is in the midst of deciding whether to retire the Northside Generating Station and where to invest in the future for residents. The JEA Board needs to seriously consider these data points showing severe energy burden and not invest in replacing coal with expensive gas that will continue to increase bills.”
From the report:
- Jacksonville experiences energy burdens as high as 13.1%, which is more than three times higher than the national average
- 100% of the neighborhoods with higher energy burden are predominantly Black and/or African-American communities
- By comparison, the White population pays the lowest percentage of income toward electricity and gas bills.
“People pay for utilities before they pay for most other things,” says Sharanya Madhavan, a data scientist for Greenlink Analytics. “The research shows us that people with high energy burdens are more likely to skip meals, not fill prescriptions, and prioritize utility bills over rent or mortgage payments, placing them at a higher risk of eviction and foreclosure.”
Background (https://renewjax.org/):
JEA board approves rate changes
JEA plans electric 'base rate' increase but still sees overall bills going down
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.