Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Open Access Master's Report

Degree Name

Master of Science in Sustainable Communities (MS)

Administrative Home Department

Department of Social Sciences

Advisor 1

Chelsea Schelly

Committee Member 1

Don Lafreniere

Committee Member 2

Kayla Gabehart

Abstract

Abstract

This study examines the opportunities and challenges of electrifying heating and cooling systems in rural northern communities, with a focus on equity and justice. Anchored in three community case studies—Baraga County, Michigan; Ashland and Iron Counties, Wisconsin; and Beltrami and Clearwater Counties, Minnesota—the research investigates socio-economic and infrastructural barriers to electrification in regions historically impacted by extractive industries. These case studies, selected for their shared histories of resource extraction and active participation of Tribal Nations, including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and the Red Lake Reservation, reveal significant disparities in energy access and affordability. Using a mixed-methods approach, including an online survey of household energy use, the study finds that rural northern communities face high energy burdens, with 26% of households spending over 10% of their income on energy costs. Heating remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with only 4.6% of households using heat pumps, while cooling demand is increasingly met by inefficient systems, such as window air conditioners. Tribal Nations members and low-income households bear a disproportionate share of these challenges, exacerbated by poor housing insulation and frequent power outages. These findings underscore the need for equitable electrification policies that address energy poverty, improve housing efficiency, and support renewable energy development in rural northern regions. By centering the sovereignty and priorities of Tribal Nations, as well as the unique needs and histories of rural communities with post-extractive legacies, this research contributes to supporting decision making for a transition to more sustainable energy systems that are responsive to the unique needs of vulnerable communities.

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