Sustainable States Clean Energy Challenge: Supporting Local Clean Energy Action by 30 Cities in Five States
Lola Schoenrich, Coordinator, Sustainable States Network
Many of the hundreds of cities in major metropolitan areas and rural regional centers are actively working to save energy and add new clean energy. How well do these smaller and medium-sized cities stack up overall compared to larger metro centers? The Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge is working with 30 cities in five states to assess their clean energy goals and initiatives and to support additional projects with tools and technical support. The challenge will compare clean energy achievements across similarly-sized cities, help the cities to assess future initiatives, and provide project implementation assistance. Additionally, participating communities will be a part of topical multi-city peer cohorts and will receive technical assistance in completing press clean energy initiatives. The challenge is described in this introductory webinar.
The project is a partnership of the Sustainable States Network, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and five state-level sustainability programs, including Connecticut, California, Maryland, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
“The power that small and medium-sized cities have to make durable and lasting impacts on clean energy can’t be underestimated. This is an opportunity to compare their clean energy achievements against similar cities in their own state and across the country and learn how they can magnify their progress,” said Lola Schoenrich, coordinator of the Sustainable States Network and vice president of communities at the Great Plains Institute. “Municipalities across the country are taking a lead in adding renewable energy, making buildings more efficient, and electrifying transportation to ensure a more sustainable and livable community for their residents.”
The assessment will also highlight the importance of the state policy and regulatory context, which allow cities in different states to excel in different ways. For example, some states allow strong local building codes and local community solar projects, and others do not. The project lessons will help to strengthen the state-level programs and support future action. Participating state-level sustainability programs include Sustainable CT, Green Cities California, Sustainable Maryland, Minnesota GreenStep Cities, and Sustainable Jersey.
“We look forward to working with small and medium-sized cities across the country to assess their clean energy efforts to help them see where they can step up,” says Dave Ribeiro, ACEEE senior research manager. “We’re confident the Community Energy Challenge will help communities throughout the country scale up their energy efficiency and clean energy efforts.”
The Sustainable States Clean Energy Challenge is funded with support from the New York Community Trust. For more information, contact Lola Schoenrich, Sustainable States Network Coordinator and Vice President for Communities at the Great Plains Institute.
About the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE): ACEEE acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. Find out more at aceee.org.