Full Title: Community Insights on Weather-Induced Energy Insecurity: A Case Study of Extreme Heat and Power Outages in North Lawndale, Chicago
Author(s): Qëndresa Krasniqi, Helen Yibrah, Rachel Scheu, Dr. Vivek Shastry, and Dr. Diana Hernández
Publisher(s): Center on Global Energy Policy Columbia
Publication Date: July 10, 2025
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Description (excerpt):
Extreme heat and power outages are two growing climate-driven threats that endanger the health and safety of vulnerable households and communities. Heat waves are among the deadliest natural hazards in the United States, and they are becoming more frequent, longer lasting, and more intense. Power outages, also on the rise, compound the risks posed by heat waves. These threats not only intersect, they also disproportionately impact communities with high economic, health, and social vulnerability—many of which have been shaped by a legacy of structural discrimination. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Black residents are 40% more likely to live in areas with higher mortality rates from rising temperatures than non-Black residents.