We are an interdisciplinary research group that examines, interrogates, and incorporates transformative energy solutions at the intersection of
equity and justice.
Our lab is guided by the research question:
how can we equitably transform our cities’ infrastructure and examine the evolving impact due to climate change towards more integrated and engaged energy, education, and community-health solutions?
Our
Research
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Energy Poverty
We investigate how energy poverty is recognized and responded to, mapping the spatial, racial, and socioeconomic disparities that shape who experiences energy insecurity and how systems respond.
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Just & Equitable Energy Transitions
We study what a fair transition requires, from workforce development in energy efficiency and building audits to solar installation and mobility access, including public transit, for underserved communities.
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Critical Minerals & Mining
We examine the extraction, sourcing, and supply chains behind new energy technologies, and their consequences for the communities and landscapes where mining occurs.
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Socially Engaged Energy Justice & Design
We explore how design and stakeholder engagement can be practiced as tools for advancing energy justice, shaping technologies, policies, and built environments through inclusive, community-driven processes.
Director/ Pricipal Investigator:
Dominic j. bednar, ph. d., eit
Dr. Dominic J. Bednar (he/they) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine's School of Social Ecology, where he leads the Just Energy Transformation Lab. Central to his work is facilitating the dreaming of energy and environmentally just futures — creating space for communities to envision and co-build the equitable world they deserve.
Dr. Bednar's research advances policy analysis and program evaluation to promote community health and effectuate a just energy transition. He investigates structural and institutional barriers to energy poverty recognition in the United States, with a focus on spatial, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in energy affordability, consumption, and efficiency. He also explores the intersections of critical minerals, mining, and mobility policy, collaborating with frontline communities and transit agencies to co-create more just and inclusive mobility futures — including new multi-modal and public transit pathways. His research also critically examines public safety power shutoff policies and their impact on medical baseline and access and functional needs customers who depend on energy for survival.
As Co-Founder of Black in Environment, he celebrates and amplifies the work of Black environmentalists globally through an annual week of programming during Earth Week. Dr. Bednar earned a Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability with a focus on Energy Justice and a MS in Natural Resources and Environment, both from the University of Michigan, and a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland.