Associate Professor in Sustainable Energy Economics
Senior Faculty Associate,
Robarts' Centre for Canadian Studies
Credentials
PhD Geography, University of Waterloo
MES Environmental Studies, York University
B.Eng Chemical Engineering, McGill University
Research Keywords
Energy Advocacy & Energy Justice; Participation & Planning In Energy Transitions; Community Energy; Innovation In Energy Services & Systems; Renewables Integration Into Electricity Grid.

Contact Information
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
416 736 2100
http://cehoicka.lab.yorku.ca/ | https://wseresearch.com/
Research Interests
My research and teaching are about developing a better understanding of how communities adopt low carbon technologies and energy transitions. I take an interdisciplinary approach to research by combining my knowledge of human geography, ecological economics and engineering and I like to collaborate with political scientists, geographers, engineers, and ecological economists. The focus of my research is community based work. It is international in scope, but grounded in understanding practices used in Canada as well. I mentor students through their participation in my research group. My current research interests include: Indigenous community energy projects; how citizens, households, organizations, universities, and municipalities participate in community energy and low-carbon energy transitions; how green entrepreneurs, policy entrepreneurs and innovation intermediaries are involved in regime destruction to establish a more sustainable energy system; whether and how communities are benefiting from community energy programs and energy innovations; planning for energy transitions; how diversity and inclusion accelerates energy transitions.
Research Projects
Research Output
Recognition & Awards
- York University Research Leader Award
- Dean’s Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Environmental Studies
- Judge, Crowdsourcing Contest, Helping Small Business Go Low-Carbon MIT Climate Co-lab, Government of Ontario, Centre for Social Innovation
- PowerStream Chair in Sustainable Energy Economics
- MITACS Accelerate (with Susan Wyse)
- SSHRC Insight Development Grant (with Travis Gliedt) on Sustainable Energy Transitions on Linking Pro-environmental Behaviour to System Innovation
- Metcalf Green Prosperity Challenge Project (with Judith Lipp) • “From Community Power to Community Conservation: Motivating and Measuring Conservation Actions of a Captive Audience”
- SSHRC Connections Grant (with Peter Victor and Ellie Perkins) on Sustaining the Commons: Ideas and Actions for a Green Economy