WASHINGTON — Latino families across the United States are disproportionately affected by high energy costs, according to a new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). The study, “Working Latinos Need Relief from High Energy Costs,” finds that Latino households are nearly twice as likely as white households to experience energy insecurity, defined as difficulty affording energy or maintaining a safe household temperature.
Authored by Elan Sykes, Director of Energy and Climate Policy at PPI, the report highlights how infrastructure gaps, outdated housing, and inefficient appliances drive up energy burdens for working-class Latino communities in both urban and suburban areas. Using case studies from Los Angeles and Boston, the analysis reveals that Latino-majority neighborhoods often lack access to clean, affordable energy due to slow permitting processes and underinvestment in modern grid infrastructure.
“Energy policy too often ignores the daily struggles of working families,” said Sykes. “While many Latino Americans support clean energy, they make decisions based on cost, and current policies leave them paying more for less.”
PPI’s report argues for a shift in environmental justice priorities to include cost, access, and infrastructure alongside climate concerns. The study offers a forward-looking blueprint for energy fairness, including:
“For Latino Americans, cost of living is a top priority. Any successful climate strategy must recognize that affordability is essential to sustainability,” said Sykes.
PPI polling shows that 69% of working-class Latino respondents base energy decisions on cost, not carbon footprint, underscoring the need for pragmatic solutions that deliver both economic and environmental benefits.
Read and download the report here.
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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org
