tiffany roberts

I'm an energy policy wonk by day, but my real passion is telling the story of access to energy and what it means to billions of people worldwide. As a Peace Corps volunteer (Turkmenistan, '96-'98), I experienced energy poverty first-hand and understand that reliable energy is a fundamental key to economic development and prosperity.

Energy poverty is one of the most pressing problems facing the developing world. According to the International Energy Agency, 1.2 billion people in the world today have no access to electricity. And more than 2.7 billion people around the world must rely on energy sources such as wood, charcoal briquettes, and animal dung to heat their homes and cook their food. Lack of energy access impacts more than 95% of people living in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia.

But access to energy isn't just a remote problem that impedes people on the other side of the globe. Energy access is a struggle right here in our own backyard. According to a 2011 National Energy Assistance Directors survey, 24 percent of low-income families had gone without food for a day in order to pay their energy bills. 34 percent had chosen not to fill a prescription or were taking half doses in order to afford their utilities. 

And the impacts of energy poverty don't stop there. Lack of energy access creates a ripple effect across households, families and communities, ultimately impacting us all. 

This blog is situated at the crossroads of energy policy and development work. But I don't want to tell the story of energy access with stats and data. Instead I'll be sharing those impacts through individual stories.  Join me in exploring the human side of energy and discover all the reasons why energy is vital. ~ Tiffany