Clean Energy Works, in partnership with Solar United Neighbors and LibertyHomes has been selected as one of five finalists in the 2030 Climate Challenge. This $10 million award supported by Lever for Change, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings, industry, and/or transportation sectors in the U.S. by 2030.
“While the world is rolling out a rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic, there is no vaccine for climate change,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “The global nature of this threat requires a similar sense of urgency and commitment to significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. The solutions proposed by the finalists for the 2030 Climate Challenge are a promising start.”
Clean Energy Works’ team collaboration is titled: First Statewide Virtual Power Plant: Equitable Transition to Clean Energy. The project proposes to push the pedal to the floor on an inclusive financing tool that enables home energy upgrades to reach mass scale by assuring all households can participate regardless of their income, credit score, or renter status. It proposes to create the first demonstration for the nation of residential sector decarbonization with creation of a statewide virtual power plant—all through equitable energy transition.
The five finalist projects were selected from 68 proposals that were evaluated during a three-month process that included peer reviews and a final review by an expert panel of more than 45 philanthropic and civic leaders, and climate experts. Applications were evaluated based on four criteria: whether they were impactful, feasible, scalable, and durable.
Over the next three months, each of the finalists will work with a team of technical experts to strengthen, revise, and re-submit their proposed solutions for the $10 million award with the final grant recipient announced in the summer of 2021.