Justin Schott

Justin Schott is a Lecturer at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and Director of the Energy Equity Project (EEP), a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Center. His work focuses on advancing energy equity through interdisciplinary research, community advocacy, and policy engagement. At SEAS, he teaches graduate courses on energy justice and advises masters projects centered on community-led energy equity initiatives.

Education

• M.S. in Resource Policy and Behavior, SEAS (2006)
• B.S. in Natural Resources, Cornell University (2002)

Research Interests
Justin specializes in environmental justice, climate policy, and energy equity. His research addresses systemic inequities in energy systems, including utility shutoffs, data transparency, and community-driven frameworks for equitable energy transitions. He has collaborated with the Urban Energy Justice Lab and developed tools to measure energy equity at national and local scales.

Scientific Recognition

• Selected by the Federation of American Scientists for Extreme Heat Policy Spring (2024)

Advising and Applied Work
At SEAS, Schott leads lab-based courses on inclusive history and energy justice. He has served as an expert witness in utility rate cases and contributed to policy reforms, including a $10 million budget increase for low-income energy programs in Detroit. His work bridges academia, community organizing, and regulatory advocacy.

Labs and Teams
Schott directs the Energy Equity Project, an interdisciplinary initiative involving researchers, community advocates, and utilities to standardize energy equity metrics. The project supports a just transition to clean energy systems through frameworks like the nationally recognized EEP tool.