Stanford students and NGOs collaborate to advance clean energy in rural America
- Ravi Chen
- May 31
- 2 min read
In a pioneering effort to align with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Stanford University students are partnering with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to facilitate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in rural America.
Through the graduate-level course Renewable Energy Transition in Rural America: A Human and Planetary Health Action Lab, students from diverse fields—including law, public policy, public health, and environmental science—collaborate with NGOs such as Renew Missouri and Clean Wisconsin to address energy challenges in underserved communities.
Rural energy cooperatives, serving approximately 42 million people in the United States, are disproportionately reliant on fossil fuels, with 61% of their energy mix derived from coal, gas, and oil, compared to the national average of 19% . This dependence not only contributes to environmental degradation but also poses significant public health risks, including increased asthma rates due to particulate matter exposure.
Students in the Action Lab work closely with their NGO partners to conduct health impact assessments and develop policy briefs tailored to each community's needs. By focusing on health outcomes, they aim to depoliticise energy discussions and make the case for clean energy transitions more relatable to affected populations .
One notable initiative includes assisting in the advocacy for the retirement of a coal plant and opposing the construction of a proposed natural gas plant. These efforts are complemented by exploring funding opportunities like the Inflation Reduction Act’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program, designed to assist rural cooperatives in transitioning to clean energy. Despite high demand, some communities face challenges in accessing these funds due to political divisions and a lack of accessible, community-specific data. The students' work aims to bridge these gaps by providing actionable insights and data-driven recommendations
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This collaborative approach underscores the importance of global cooperation in addressing sustainability challenges. By integrating academic expertise with community engagement, the initiative exemplifies how interdisciplinary efforts can drive meaningful progress toward global sustainability goals.
For more information on related global efforts, consider exploring the following resources:
