Electricity and Climate Resilience in the Rural North: Challenges and Opportunities
A project funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant G-2022-19480
The goal of this project is to understand the technical and social barriers and opportunities for resilience and equitable electrification in the rural north.
Regional problems, regional solutions
We focus on the electrification of heating services in rural, northern communities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. We are working with stakeholders in three individual communities to understand the local housing characteristics, community preferences, and local resources. This project grew out of the idea that although electrification across the economy is expected to drive decarbonization nationally, the specific characteristics of rural northern communities have not been quantified. Indigenous and post-industrial communities in this region may be particularly vulnerable to weather and climate change due to long heating seasons, high energy prices, high energy burdens and/or disinvestment in infrastructure. We hope that our work helps to determine how decision-makers can design electrification of heating and cooling services in rural, northern communities for equitable and resilient transitions.
Rural Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Left: This map shows cold to very cold climate zones - areas that now exclude the southern portions of Wisconsin and Michigan. We focus on these areas because of the particular challenges of heat pump performance in cold climates. The three case study communities are outlined in red, one in each state. This map also shows in yellow the Tribal reservations across this region.
Research questions
Our primary research question is What are the technical and social barriers and opportunities for resilient and equitable electrification in the rural north? To answer this question, we study the resilience of heating and cooling services provided with electricity in this region, and the development of renewable energy and energy storage on rural land. An interdisciplinary team works to integrate detailed building energy modeling, energy policies, and community preferences, to understand the pathways toward resilient and equitable electrification in the rural north. A key part of our approach is our relationship with our Community Advisory Board and the inclusion of Indigenous voices.
Research team
Dr. Ana Dyreson (Michigan Tech) leads the project and oversees the engineering aspects of the project, advising PhD student Adnan Hilal.
Dave Bohac and Dr. Joshua Quinnell (Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment) lead the building modeling.
Dr. Chelsea Schelly (Michigan Tech) leads community engagement, and community survey work, and advises graduate student Nelly Aghaei.
Dr. Roman Sidortsov (Michigan Tech) leads energy justice and energy policy work and co-advises graduate student Nelly Aghaei.
Dr. Tim Scarlett (Michigan Tech) supports the project through archival records for energy infrastructure and housing and through community partnerships.
Dr. Ryan Williams (Michigan Tech) leads the geospatial analysis aspects of the project.
Community Advisory Board
Sarah Smith, 8th Fire Consulting
Bob La Fave, Village Manager for L’Anse, Michigan
Bill Bailey, Cheq Bay Renewables
Kelly Klein, Iron County Development Board
Robert Blake, Native Sun Community Power Development and Solar Bear
Eugene Standingcloud, Oshkiimaajitahdah Center
Jerry Wuorenmaa, Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region
Leann Littlewolf, American Indian Community Housing Organization