Mining for War: Assessing the Pentagon’s Mineral Stockpile
The Pentagon is rapidly expanding its stockpile of the so-called “critical minerals” it deems essential for military industries. Many of these same materials—known as energy transition …
Our Research
Climate and Community Institute (CCI) creates research that connects issues that dominate our political economy directly with the climate crisis. We lay the groundwork for ambitious and creative climate goals in the near term, and build the vision for a just, decarbonized future.
End Point or Setback? A Retrospective of the Maine Public Power Ballot Initiative
In November 2023, Maine voted against a ballot initiative to establish a consumer-owned utility, Pine Tree Power, that would replace the two existing privately-owned utilities. Although …
Supply Chain Solidarity Principles
The transition to zero carbon transportation has initiated major social and economic shifts: a boom in new mine development to supply transition minerals needed to manufacture …
Supply Chain Solidarity: Lessons from the Lithium Frontlines
Workers and organizers, representing different parts of the transportation supply chain, journey across Nevada to learn first-hand about the impacts of lithium mining for electric vehicle …
Financial Distress in the Multifamily Rental Market, and What It Means for Tenants
Financial distress in the multifamily market is on the rise in the United States, with loan delinquencies nearly doubling in the last year alone and recently …
Healthy School Finance: Rethinking Debt in the Movement for Green Public Education Facilities
Public school infrastructure in the United States received a grade of D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2025. Deferred maintenance, toxic materials, …
A Federal Offshore Wind Authority: A Public Moon Shot for Offshore Wind
The offshore wind industry is under attack. The Trump administration has cancelled hundreds of millions in public support, halted leases for new projects, and even attempted …
Overcharged: The Rules Of The Electricity Affordability Crisis
Nearly a quarter of adults in the US—or over 52 million people—cannot pay their power bills. The need to decarbonize and build a climate-resilient grid are …
Protection or Profit? Transformative Solutions to the Home Insurance Crisis
Across the country, the chaotic and financially ruinous aftermath of climate disasters demonstrates that reliance on traditional home insurance models is unsustainable and perpetuates inequalities. Only …
Community Benefits Agreements
In the face of energy transition projects, communities can deploy community benefits agreements (CBAs) to exert control over their futures. When communities get organized early, know …
