Our current energy system is a potent contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. At IGS, we are researching clean, affordable, and universally accessible energy solutions. Science communication on energy-related topics is also paramount in our work.
Research Projects
CELT Launches
IGS is collaborating on the Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and UMass Lowell — working together to advance equitable clean energy transitions in Massachusetts. The project combines Boston University's expertise in energy systems, data visualization, and community engagement.
Latest News & Events
Nearly 47 Million Americans Are at High Risk of Potential Health Hazards from Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
By Alison Gold Fossil fuels release pollutants into the air when extracted and burned, but there’s more to their production than massive oil rigs diving deep into the Earth and smoky power plants. Those processes are examples of only the first and last—and generally most visible—moments in a fossil fuel’s five-stage journey. Between the initial […]
Now Hiring: Clean Energy & Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Municipal Fellows
Recruiting students for statewide opportunity to support sustainability projects in Massachusetts. Passionate about clean energy? The Clean Energy & Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative is hiring students for its second cohort of Municipal Fellows to work with local governments across Massachusetts on sustainability projects, especially in environmental justice communities. Boston University, UMass Lowell, and the […]
Welcome ENERGIZE Program Trainees
The new BU ENERGIZE Program, hosted by IGS, is off to a strong start!
California’s Solar Market Faces Seven Forms of Corruption—Including “Sex for Solar”
Groundbreaking IGS study points to recommended reforms in solar energy. By Laura Hurley Solar power is growing by leaps and bounds in the United States, propelled by climate mitigation policies and carbon-free energy goals — and California is leading the way as the nation’s top producer of solar electricity. A new study in Energy Strategy […]
Investment Risk for Energy Infrastructure Construction Is Highest for Nuclear Power Plants, Lowest for Solar
In a new state-of-the-art study, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, researchers at the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) found that runaway construction costs and delayed timelines stymie many energy projects. In fact, the average project costs 40% more than expected for construction and takes almost two years longer than planned, as the study showed.
Distribution of EV Charging Infrastructure Across US is Unequal and Not Improving, First-time Nationwide Study Finds
The income gap for access to public EV chargers is now three times that of gas stations on a national scale. Does access to electric vehicles vary by race or income? This is a pressing concern for just transitions as electric vehicle (EV) adoption has grown exponentially in the United States over the past decade. […]
IGS Partners with Healey-Driscoll Administration and UMass Lowell to Advance Equitable Clean Energy in Massachusetts
The Healey-Driscoll Administration, UMass Lowell, and Boston University have launched the Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative, a new international partnership to advance an equitable energy transition in Massachusetts, empower communities, and train the next generation of climate leaders. The effort is backed by $5.7 million in funding from the Department of Energy […]
Spotlight on Faculty Research
Research Making Headlines
The Race to a Battery-Powered Future
Engineers at BU are figuring out how to make better, more sustainable batteries—a technology that is essential for clean energy.