diff --git a/scripts/load-inst-035.js b/scripts/load-inst-035.js
index c791f183..ea3b8a56 100644
--- a/scripts/load-inst-035.js
+++ b/scripts/load-inst-035.js
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
  * This resolves the startup warning about missing inst_035
  */
 
+// Load environment variables from .env file
+require('dotenv').config();
+
 const mongoose = require('mongoose');
 const config = require('../src/config/app.config');
 
diff --git a/scripts/migrate-value-pluralism-docs.js b/scripts/migrate-value-pluralism-docs.js
index 76cd7333..29c55c45 100644
--- a/scripts/migrate-value-pluralism-docs.js
+++ b/scripts/migrate-value-pluralism-docs.js
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
  * Adds three new value pluralism documents to the documents collection
  */
 
+// Load environment variables from .env file
+require('dotenv').config();
+
 const mongoose = require('mongoose');
 const marked = require('marked');
 const fs = require('fs').promises;