What Makes an Energy Economy Resilient?, with Daniel Raimi

About this episode

The episode discusses the resilience of energy economies and the challenges faced by fossil fuel-dependent communities with guest Daniel Raimi.

In this week’s episode, host Kristin Hayes is joined by podcast-host-turned-guest Daniel Raimi, a fellow at Resources for the Future (RFF) and director of RFF’s Communities in the Energy Transition initiative, to discuss Raimi’s research on energy communities and his work establishing a highly collaborative ongoing project: the Resilient Energy Economies initiative. Though all communities depend on energy, “energy communities” are communities whose economic livelihoods are dependent on fossil fuels. Raimi recounts how his early career experiences inspired him to study the complex dynamics of fossil fuel–dependent communities amid a shifting energy sector. The oft-overlooked economic complications that arise in energy communities have been motivating federal, state, and local efforts to preserve and protect financial stability for residents after energy companies leave town. Whether in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Texas, or a Tribal nation, Raimi maintains that engaging with the people who actually are living in these fossil fuel–dependent local economies enables a holistic understanding of the mammoth impact of the fossil fuel industry in the development of the United States and in the…

People in this episode

Host: Kristin Hayes

Guest: Daniel Raimi

Topics covered

• energy economy
• resilience
• fossil fuel communities
• economic stability
• energy transition

Keywords

• energy communities
• fossil fuels
• economic livelihoods
• energy transition
• collaborative projects

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Resources for the Future, Resilient Energy Economies initiative

Places: Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tribal nation

More episodes of Resources Radio

• Understanding the Barriers to Affordable Homeowners Insurance, with Margaret Walls and Penny Liao · June 8, 2026 · 35 min
• Moving Development Rights Around to Hit Land Use Goals, with Nick Bratton · June 2, 2026 · 29 min
• The California Homes That Are Going Electric, with Lauren Dunlap · May 26, 2026 · 31 min
• Finding Flexibility in Data Center Use, with Johanna Mathieu · May 19, 2026 · 32 min
• What Does Landman Get Right? Fracks and Fictions of the Oil Industry, with Deborah Gordon · May 11, 2026 · 33 min
• How Do Oil Wells Become Orphans?, with Sarah Armitage · April 28, 2026 · 31 min