Managing the mid-transition: How to navigate the chaotic shift from fossil fuel to clean energy
University of Notre Dame’s Emily Grubert breaks down why the mid-transition from using fossil fuel to clean energy is more chaotic than either endpoint — and why careful planning is critical
Despite decades of policy efforts aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels, they still account for more than 75% of the United States’ energy consumption.
Fully decarbonizing will mean not only building massive new infrastructure to electrify power, transportation and heating systems, but also actively retiring old systems in a way that considers workers, communities and public safety.
Emily Grubert, Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy at University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, delivered a comprehensive, justice-oriented talk on what she terms the “mid-transition.” This transition is the critical and chaotic period during which both fossil-based and clean energy systems operate simultaneously, but neither can fully support society’s energy needs on its own.
Grubert noted that the U.S. coal mining workforce has dropped from 250,000 to about 40,000 today, but even in decline, fossil energy industries remain deeply embedded in the national economy, infrastructure and culture. An equitable and pragmatic energy system transition must recognize this reality and offer real opportunities for communities historically dependent on coal, oil and gas, according to Grubert.
“Historically, when industries like coal or steel have declined, we’ve just walked away from communities. We can — and must — do better this time,” she said. “The mid-transition is more chaotic than the endpoints. We’re trying to shrink one system and grow another, and that dynamism creates real risks if we don’t plan for it.”
Grubert’s talk, titled Managing the Mid-Transition from Fossil to Clean Energy, concluded the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s 2024–2025 Focus on Environment and Sustainability seminar series. To hear more of her insights on how to navigate the challenges of energy system transformation, watch the full seminar on YouTube.
