Quick Hit: Amid skyrocketing energy prices, more Americans are facing the harsh reality of choosing between basic necessities like food, rent, and electricity. The Biden-Harris administration's energy policies are under scrutiny as extreme weather exacerbates energy poverty, particularly in underserved communities.

Key Details:

• Many Americans, like Stacey Freeman, are struggling to afford energy bills, often forced to choose between utilities and essential needs.
• Energy poverty disproportionately impacts low-income households and communities of color, with 16% of U.S. households now classified as energy-poor.
• Rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions are increasing the burden on those already facing financial hardship.

Diving Deeper:

Under the Biden-Harris administration, more Americans are grappling with energy poverty, a growing crisis where households are unable to afford their basic energy needs. As the Southeast faced a heat dome this summer, many like Stacey Freeman, a mother from Fayetteville, North Carolina, found themselves forced to make difficult choices between paying utility bills or covering rent and food expenses. "Sometimes I have to choose whether I'm going to pay the light bill," Freeman lamented, "or do I pay all the rent or buy food or not let my son do a sport?"

Freeman's situation is becoming increasingly common. She works as a regional field organizer for PowerUp NC, a grassroots initiative aimed at helping people weatherize their homes and adopt clean energy practices. Yet, despite her work in promoting energy efficiency, Freeman herself cannot afford the services she provides to others due to her income level being slightly above the threshold for assistance.

This dilemma illustrates a broader trend affecting millions across the country. Households spending more than 6% of their income on energy are considered energy-poor. An estimated 16% of American households fall into this category, with communities of color experiencing this burden at a rate 60% higher than white communities. Extreme weather, driven by climate change, is only making the situation worse. Last year, heat-related deaths in the U.S. jumped 44%, with heat being the leading cause of weather-related fatalities.

Experts are calling for more robust policy responses to alleviate the growing threat of energy poverty. "Energy poverty is just one example of how climate change can exacerbate existing inequities in our communities," said Summer Tonizzo, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The current federal funding structures, however, remain inadequate. Programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program favor colder states, leaving those facing extreme heat with insufficient support.

Meanwhile, many states are left to rely on private donations and local nonprofits to provide temporary relief, such as distributing fans and air conditioners. In North Carolina, where Freeman works, these efforts fall short of meeting the increasing need. On the hottest days, Freeman and her colleagues direct residents to cooling centers, but even that is a temporary fix. "We're doing stuff that doesn't cost," she said. "Just trying to keep up with the electric bill."

Critics argue that the Biden-Harris administration's energy policies, including a focus on green energy and climate initiatives, have not sufficiently addressed the immediate needs of Americans facing skyrocketing utility costs.