Nicholas Britton’s passion for energy policy began at Dartmouth College, where he majored in environmental studies and helped support the energy transition on campus. Through field work and research, from New Hampshire to Southern Africa to Washington, D.C., Britton will focus on equitable energy access as a means of serving environmental and social goals.
Now a student of the Master of Public Administration (MPA-ESP) program offered by the Columbia Institute of International and Public Affairs in partnership with Columbia Climate School, Britton is driven by the fact that fair energy access is a fundamental human right and a powerful leverage for climate and rights solutions. He shares more information about this prospect and his experience below.
Given your diverse background in environmental research, what attracted you to focus on energy?
I initially wanted to study physics, but a Dartmouth workshop explored the pathways of low-carbon societies that shifted my mind to the interconnection of social, economic, political and scientific issues and how we solve them at a systematic level. That was when I decided to do environmental research.
The second summer, I worked with the Nature Conservation Association in New Hampshire to monitor conservative land. I fell in love with the work, but I wasn’t particularly focused on energy issues until I started taking energy-related courses in Dartmouth.
Dartmouth’s campus uses No. 6 fuel to heat and power its facilities. Sixth place is one of the dirtiest and most imperfect forms of oil, filled with sulfur and carcinogens that are harmful to air quality and public health. My dorm is right next to the plants, so I watch it pollutes the air every winter. This really caught my interest in finding ways to reduce my campus footprint.
My foreign study program in Southern Africa was another decisive moment for me. We spent some time working with local organizations for conservation efforts and I saw rural, low-income communities often don’t have the reliable energy to cook food and heat up the house. In these areas, even if a solar panel powers the basic equipment, it is considered a luxury. This made me realize that important energy is not only for economic development, but also for health and overall quality of life. In many privileged societies we take energy for granted, but in communities without reliable access, it is clear that energy is a fundamental right of mankind. From this, I realized that focusing on energy policy will allow me to have a significant impact on environmental and social issues.
Is your interest in energy lies in formulating or implementing policies?
Prior to Colombia, I worked with DC’s Energy Futures Program (EFI) Foundation to examine how federal clean energy policy accelerates decarbonization through technology and different avenues. It was important work, but I realized I wanted a role that would allow me to be more involved in implementing these policies or clean energy projects than just researching or discussing them.
That’s what really attracted me to the MPA-ESP program. It provides management courses and energy-centric courses that give me practical skills to apply these policies. I want to go beyond policy thinking and bring these solutions to life.
How do you view fairness in energy policy?
At EFI, I work on a project that explores how federal investment affects disadvantaged communities. We focus on cancer alleys in Louisiana and parts of West Virginia where the fossil fuel industry has long been economic and healthy.
A core issue is ensuring that the billions of dollars investing in clean energy actually benefit these communities, not just industries that replace fossil fuels. A key point is that community participation must be accessible. Many residents are engaged in multiple jobs or face resource constraints, thus making it easier for governments and industries. The federal government plays a crucial role in convening stakeholders and ensuring equitable distribution of resources. This study helped me realize how important it is to develop policies that focus not only on energy innovation, but also how these innovations can be implemented to support historically marginalized communities.
You are working with EFI’s clients to research the energy-centric peak. What was this experience like, and can you explain more about the project?
It was a little crazy at first because when I joined EFI, my client was my boss, so it felt like a full moment. The team is passionate about this topic and we are different from what I used to do. I am very happy with the insights I have gained when learning for my peers.
Our Clients Tomorrow is Clean, a DC-based nonprofit focused on effective clean energy policy deployments. Our project examines state-level policies that help distribute benefits to communities, especially given the current uncertainty of many federal community welfare programs. We are exploring mechanisms such as legally binding agreements between towns and wind developers, as well as tax structures that return energy revenue to residents. Some of our research focuses on oil and gas countries such as New Mexico and Wyoming, where fossil fuel revenues provide local services to schools and municipalities. This dependence is both embedded and enriched, and the national budget is vulnerable to price fluctuations.
Our research focuses on how we adapt to renewable energy in our model, examining examples of states using renewable energy revenue to benefit local communities. An example of this is property tax on wind and solar farms. We are exploring these structures to see if they can provide a more stable source of income for the community while supporting the transition to clean energy. We are studying seven states to compare how each state responds to these challenges and provide our clients with state-state analysis.
How do you navigate the fact that fossil fuels are so deeply rooted in society?
This is definitely a tough question. On a social scale, the reality is that fossil fuels are still deeply embedded in everyday life, especially through products such as plastics and healthcare. We won’t leave them overnight, but there is room for real progress in electricity. We have the technology to produce renewable energy; it’s just a matter of cost and placement. But the transition is slow, and resistance to new energy infrastructure is a huge obstacle, whether it is solar farms or coal-fired power plants.
How do you spend your free time outside of your studies?
I love exploring New York. I really enjoyed live music and saw the local Brooklyn band Geese at last year’s festival. I also love to run along the Hudson River Greenway and Central Park to relax. I live in the kitchen of Hell, so I’ve been enjoying Broadway shows and the food nearby, especially Thai food. It’s great to balance the busy school life with these activities.
