Nicholas Britton’s passion for energy policy began at Dartmouth University, where he majored in environmental studies and helped the campus transition. Through fieldwork and research from New Hampshire to South Africa and Washington, D.C., Britton focused on equitable energy access as a tool that could serve both environmental and social goals.
Currently, a master’s student in environmental science and policy (MPA-esp) The programme offered by Colombia International Public Service Schools in partnership with Colombia Climate Schools is driven by the belief that equitable energy access is a fundamental human right and a powerful lever for climate and equity solutions. He shares this outlook and his experience below.
Given your diverse background in environmental studies, what inspired you to focus on energy?
I originally wanted to study physics, but the seminar at Dartmouth, which explored the path to a low-carbon society, shifted my thinking to the interconnectivity of social, economic, political and scientific issues, and how I address these issues at the system level. That was when I decided to pursue environmental research.
The following summer, I worked with Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire to monitor the preserved land. I fell in love with this job, but I was particularly focused on energy issues before I started taking energy-related courses at Dartmouth.
The Dartmouth campus uses fuel oil No. 6 to heat and power the facility. No. 6 is one of the dirty, refined oils, full of sulfur and carcinogens that are harmful to air quality and public health. My dorm was right next to the plants, so I saw it polluting the air every winter. It really sparked my interest in finding ways to reduce the carbon footprint on campus.
My foreign research program in South Africa was another defining moment for me. We spent time working with local organizations and conservation efforts. I have seen that low-income rural communities often lack the reliable energy to cook food and warm homes. In these areas, even having solar panels to power a basic device was considered a luxury. This made me realize how important energy is not only important for economic development, but also for health and overall quality of life. In many privileged societies, we take energy for granted, but in communities with no trustworthy access, it is clear that energy is a fundamental human right. This made me realize that focusing on energy policy can have a significant impact on both environmental and social issues.
Is your interest in energy more about shaping and implementing policies?
Before Columbia, I worked with the DC Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) Foundation to investigate how federal clean energy policies accelerate decarbonization through technology and various pathways. It was an important task, but I realized I wanted a role that would be more involved in implementing these policies and developing clean energy projects.
That’s what really drew me to the MPA-ESP program. We offer management courses and energy-focused classes with practical skills to apply these policies. I want to go beyond policy ideas and contribute to realizing these solutions.
What do you think about the fairness of energy policy?
EFI worked on a project to explore how federal investment impacts disadvantaged communities. It focused on places like the cancer alleys in Louisiana and parts of West Virginia where the fossil fuel industry has long shaped economic and health outcomes.
The central concern was to ensure that the billions invested in clean energy would actually benefit these communities, not just industries that will replace fossil fuels. The key point was that we needed to have access to community engagement. With many residents working multiple jobs and facing resource constraints, it is important that governments and industry participate easily. The federal government plays an important role in convening stakeholders and ensuring resources are distributed fairly. This study helped us to understand how important it is to have a policy, not just about energy innovations, but also about how these innovations are implemented to support historically marginalized communities.
I work on energy-centric capstones with EFI clients. What was that experience like? Can you explain more about the project?
When I joined EFI, it was a bit crazy at first because my client was my boss. The team is passionate about this topic and is approaching Capstone a little differently from previous work. I am pleased to contribute to the insights I gained while learning from my peers.
Our clients tomorrow are DC-based nonprofits and are focused on rolling out effective clean energy policies. Our project is considering state-level policies that will help us distribute benefits to our communities, particularly given the current uncertainty regarding benefits programs for many federal communities. They are exploring mechanisms such as legally binding contracts between towns and wind developers and tax structures that return energy income to residents. Some of our research focuses on oil and gas production states such as New Mexico and Wyoming, with fossil fuel revenue funding local services such as schools and municipalities. This trust is deeply embedded, unstable, and state budgets are vulnerable to price fluctuations.
Our study focuses on how this model is adapted to renewable energy, and examines examples of states using renewable energy revenues to benefit their communities. One such example is wind power and property taxes from solar farms. We are investigating these structures to see if we can provide a more stable revenue stream to our community while supporting the transition to clean energy. We are looking at seven states to compare how each issue is handled with the goal of providing clients with state-by-state analysis.
How do you navigate the fact that fossil fuels are rooted in society?
That’s definitely a difficult question. On a social scale, the reality is that fossil fuels are embedded deeply in everyday life, particularly through sectors such as plastics and healthcare. We will not leave them overnight, but there is room for real advancement in electricity. There is technology to produce renewable energy. It’s just cost and placement. However, the transition is slow and local resistance to new energy infrastructure is a major barrier, whether it is a solar farm or a coal plant.
How do you spend your free time outside of your studies?
I love exploring New York. I’m really interested in live music and saw the goose from the local Brooklyn band at their festival last year. They also relax along the Hudson River Greenway through Central Park. I live in Hell’s Kitchen and enjoy Broadway shows and great food in my neighborhood, especially Thai food. It’s great to balance these activities with busy school life.
