Nicholas Britton’s passion for energy policy began at Dartmouth College, where he majored in environmental studies and helped support the campus’s energy transition. Through fieldwork and research, from New Hampshire to Southern Africa to Washington, D.C., Britton developed a focus on equitable energy access as a means to serve both environmental and social goals.
Now a student in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program, which is offered by Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs in partnership with the Columbia Climate School, Britton 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 more about this outlook and his experiences below.
Given your diverse background in environmental studies, what drew you to focus on energy?
I originally wanted to study physics, but a seminar at Dartmouth that explored pathways to a low-carbon society shifted my thinking toward the interconnectedness of social, economic, political and scientific issues, as well as how we might tackle these problems on a systems level. That’s when I decided to pursue environmental studies.
The following summer, I worked with the Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire, monitoring conserved lands. I fell in love with the work, but it wasn’t until I started taking energy-related courses at Dartmouth that I became particularly focused on energy issues.
Dartmouth’s campus uses No. 6 fuel oil to heat and power its facilities. No. 6 is one of the dirtiest, least refined forms of oil, full of sulfur and carcinogens that are harmful to air quality and public health. My dorm was right next to the plant, so I watched it pollute the air every winter. That really sparked my interest in finding ways to reduce the campus’s carbon footprint.
My foreign study program in Southern Africa was another defining moment for me. We spent time working with local organizations on conservation efforts, and I saw how rural, low-income communities were often without reliable energy to cook their food and heat their homes. In these areas, even having a solar panel to power basic devices was considered a luxury. This made me realize how vital energy is not just 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’s clear that energy is a fundamental human right. From this, I realized that focusing on energy policy would allow me to make a significant impact on both environmental and social issues.
Does your interest in energy lie more in shaping policy or implementing it?
Before Columbia, I worked with the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) Foundation in D.C., researching how federal clean energy policies can accelerate decarbonization through technologies and different pathways. It was important work, but I realized that I wanted a role where I could be more involved in the implementation of these policies or the development of clean energy projects, rather than just researching or discussing them.
That’s what really drew me to the MPA-ESP program. It offers management courses and energy-focused classes that equip me with the practical skills to apply these policies. I want to move beyond just the policy ideas and contribute to bringing these solutions to life.
How do you think about equity in energy policy?
At EFI, I worked on a project exploring how federal investments might affect disadvantaged communities. We focused on places like Cancer Alley in Louisiana, and parts of West Virginia, where fossil fuel industries have long shaped economic and health outcomes.
A central concern was ensuring that the billions being invested in clean energy actually benefit these communities, not just the industries replacing fossil fuels. A key takeaway was that community engagement needs to be accessible. Many residents work multiple jobs or face resource constraints, so it’s critical for government and industry to make participation easier. The federal government plays a vital role in convening stakeholders and ensuring resources are equitably distributed. This research helped me realize how important it is to have policies that don’t just focus on energy innovation, but also on how those innovations are implemented to support communities that have been historically marginalized.
You’re working on an energy-focused capstone with a client from EFI. What has that experience been like and can you explain more about the project?
It was kind of crazy at first because my client was my boss when I joined EFI, so this felt like a full-circle moment. The team is enthusiastic about the topic, and we’re approaching the capstone a bit differently from my previous work. I’m glad I can contribute the insights I gained while also learning from my peers.
Our client is Clean Tomorrow, a D.C.-based nonprofit that focuses on effective clean energy policy deployment. Our project examines state-level policies that help distribute benefits to communities, particularly given the current uncertainty around many federal community benefit programs. We’re exploring mechanisms like legally binding agreements between towns and wind developers, and tax structures that return energy revenues to residents. Some of our research has focused on oil- and gas-producing states like New Mexico and Wyoming, where fossil fuel revenues fund local services like schools and municipalities. This reliance is both deeply embedded and volatile, with state budgets vulnerable to price swings.
Our research has focused on how we might adapt this model for renewable energy, looking at examples where states have used renewable energy revenues to benefit local communities. One such example is property taxes from wind and solar farms. We’re exploring these structures to see if they can provide a more stable revenue source for communities while supporting the transition to clean energy. We’re looking at seven states to compare how each handles these challenges, with the goal of providing our client with a state-by-state analysis.
How do you navigate the fact that fossil fuels are so entrenched in society?
It’s definitely a tough issue. On a societal scale, the reality is that fossil fuels are still deeply embedded in daily life, especially through products like plastics and in sectors like healthcare. We won’t move away from them overnight, but there’s room for real progress in electricity. We have the technology to produce renewable energy; it’s just a matter of cost and placement. But transitioning is slow, and local resistance to new energy infrastructure is a big barrier, whether it’s a solar farm or a coal plant.
Outside of your studies, how do you spend your free time?
I love exploring New York. I’m really into live music and saw a local Brooklyn band, Geese, at their festival last year. I also like to run along the Hudson River Greenway and through Central Park to unwind. I live in Hell’s Kitchen, so I’ve been enjoying Broadway shows and great food in the neighborhood, especially Thai food. It’s been great to balance the busy school life with these activities.
