Elizabeth Ouzts stands at the forefront of solutions-oriented energy reporting, currently shaping national discourse through her contributions to Canary Media. With deep roots in North Carolina's environmental policy landscape, she brings two decades of experience to stories that bridge the gap between legislative halls and community impacts.
"Ouzts makes energy policy visceral through her focus on agricultural impacts." - 2025 James Beard Media Awards Committee
We've followed Elizabeth Ouzts's work as she's become one of the most authoritative voices documenting the human dimensions of America's clean energy transition. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ouzts combines two decades of environmental advocacy experience with rigorous journalism to illuminate the complex interplay between policy, technology, and community impacts.
Ouzts' career reflects the evolving nature of environmental reporting in the digital age:
This 2024 investigation exposed the paradox of biomass energy through immersive community reporting. Ouzts spent six months documenting how European demand for "carbon-neutral" wood pellets creates localized pollution burdens in rural Black communities. Her methodology combined EPA air quality data analysis with first-person accounts from residents living near pellet mills.
Ouzts' 2024 feature for Reasons to be Cheerful showcased her solutions journalism approach. Tracking the Footprint Project's post-Hurricane Helene response, she revealed how solar microgrids provided more reliable power than traditional diesel generators. The piece has been cited in FEMA's 2025 Community Resilience Handbook.
Ouzts consistently examines the disconnect between legislative intent and on-the-ground outcomes. Her wood pellet investigation [1] revealed how EU renewable energy targets unintentionally harmed environmental justice communities. Successful pitches will identify similar policy paradoxes in clean energy subsidies or climate adaptation programs.
The hurricane relief piece [2] demonstrates Ouzts' interest in technologies bridging multiple sectors. She prioritizes stories showing how energy innovations address adjacent challenges like disaster preparedness or agricultural resilience.
"Ouzts' reporting makes the abstract deeply personal - she transforms megawatt debates into human-scale stories." - 2024 SEJ Awards Committee
As world grapples with wood pellets’ climate impacts, North Carolina communities contend with dust and noise
Read articleAt PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Energy, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
