Amidst the new weather front in federal energy policy, we are grounded in 2024 gains and the milestones in view in pivotal states. Milestones like Duke Energy’s Improve & Save program, California’s proposed pilot initiatives, and Illinois’ Equitable Energy Upgrade Program are on a path for broader uptake of energy efficiency and clean energy solutions.
These achievements highlight what’s possible when barriers to participation — like upfront costs, personal debt obligations, and delayed rebates — are removed. They also inspire us onward because we understand financial assistance is limited, yet decarbonization upgrades are more important than ever.
Join us in seeing a highlight reel for 2024 that assures we can make more gains together in 2025, an even greater imperative in the changing conditions.
Shaping the Clean Energy Future Together
First, we want to recognize groundbreaking accomplishments through the collective efforts of multiple utilities and community stakeholders. We’re proud to spotlight their achievements and the shared momentum behind this transformative work!
Duke Energy Launches Improve & Save
After champions for faster and more equitable energy transitions in the Southeast worked with utilities on solutions for energy security, stakeholders in North Carolina won a settlement with Duke to implement the top recommendation for utilities: site specific utility investment and cost recovery. Now, Duke Energy’s Improve & Save is expanding the way customers can access energy efficiency upgrades.
SEPA & Duke Energy team up to spotlight Improve & Save
In this webinar, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and Duke Energy explore how the program works, customer benefits, its role in decarbonization, and the collaborative stakeholder process that brought it to life.
We recommend this inspiring look at how innovation meets impact!
EPA updates ENERGY STAR resource hub on inclusive utility investments to center consumer equity and protections
The ENERGY STAR Inclusive Utility Investment webpage spotlights the core tenets that set these tariffs apart from on-bill loans and related models.
The updated page is packed with valuable insights, including field-tested best practices and additional attributes for designing programs that put consumers first. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to accelerate deployment of grid-edge upgrades with inclusive financial solutions that have strong consumer protections.
Historic commitment to Rural America: $29 billion clean energy boom
We’re thrilled to celebrate the monumental $29 billion in commitments to new investments in 10,000MW of clean energy, propelled by the first $7.3 billion in federal New ERA grants to electric cooperatives. This historic milestone was achieved with the dedicated advocacy of the Rural Power Coalition and its members.
These investments, spanning 16 cooperatives systems and reaching 20% of rural residents across 23 states, promise to redefine rural America’s energy future once the federal contracts for those awards are enforced. Meanwhile, Rural Power Coalition members are continuing to pursue inclusive utility investments, which need not wait on resolution of IRA disbursements.
Ipswich Electric Light Department secures $5M USDA loan to power inclusive utility investment expansion
Ipswich Electric Light Department is making the first inclusive utility investments in Massachusetts, paving the way for more municipal utilities.
ReInvest Ipswich has electrified HVAC systems in every participating home, slashed 84% of upfront costs for customers, delivered 20% energy savings, and cut over 400 tons of lifetime CO₂ emissions. With a $5 million USDA loan, Ipswich is now poised to scale this transformative program to serve over 200 households, driving energy equity and climate action forward.
Illinois’s Equitable Energy Upgrade Program
Since the Equitable Energy Upgrade Program became law in Illinois through the Clean Energy Jobs Act, the state utility commission has led a series of workshops to inform guidelines for implementing utilities, and in 2024, that process neared completion. Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, including Elevate Energy, Slipstream, and Vote Solar, filed strong comments on the program’s guidelines, and the utilities are bringing uncommon experience and expansiveness to the ways that the Equitable Energy Upgrade Program can benefit the people of Illinois.
California utilities propose inclusive utility investment pilot program
Answering an order from the state utility commission, all four California investor-owned utilities and a local consumer choice aggregator jointly proposed to offer inclusive utility investments. Silicon Valley Clean Energy and Southern California Edison advanced proposals similar to the one stakeholders in 2019 had concluded would best meet design criteria for building decarbonization, as described in Towards An Accessible Financing Solution and called for even earlier by Greenlining Institute in its Equitable Building Electrification Framework.
What happens next? The commission faces a procedural question about which process to choose for evaluating the proposals. Meanwhile, PG&E attests that its billing system would need fixes , which is timely because the utility just received a $15 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy with grid-edge upgrades in the scope.
Resources for Transformation
We’re thrilled to spotlight these standout resources released in 2024 by leaders in the field! Their efforts and contributions have been instrumental in our shared journey toward a just energy transition and a cleaner, brighter, more equitable future for all.
Clean Energy Works in Action
Over the summer and fall, our team engaged with hundreds of stakeholders across multiple conferences, sparking conversations to accelerate inclusive financial solutions in clean energy. These events weren’t just gatherings — they were powerful platforms to share insights, forge meaningful partnerships, and amplify our mission for a cleaner, just energy future.
Dive into our blog posts to explore key takeaways and insights!
Clean Energy Works, World Resources Institute Join Forces to Co-Host CAFE: Community to Advance Finance for ESBs
In 2024, Clean Energy Works and World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative co-hosted the inaugural CAFE: Community to Advance Finance for ESBs meeting. This closed-door gathering brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to tackle challenges and uncover bold solutions for scaling electric school bus adoption. Discussions centered on maximizing federal funding opportunities and creating equitable pathways for school districts to embrace clean, sustainable transportation.
The future of student transportation is here — and it’s electric!
Clean Energy Works Expands Organizational Capacity with New Staff & Board Members
This year, we welcomed the following staff members:
- Max Toth, Deputy Director of Strategic Impact
- Khushbu Srivastava, Director of Advancement
- Daphne Yuan, Communications Manager
- Camille Minns, Senior Associate of Just Energy Transition
- Kai Palmer-Dunning, Senior Associate of Building Decarbonization
- Lidiya Kassahun, Senior Associate of Transportation Decarbonization
We also welcomed the following board members:
- Ayushi Vig, Philanthropic Advisor & Strategist
- Randall Frazier, CFO, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
- Richard Juang, Senior Manager for Environmental Justice Policy, Ceres
- Marilynn Marsh-Robinson, Director of Partnerships & Outreach, Environmental Defense Fund
Charting the Course for 2025
As we sail into 2025, federal support for energy efficiency and clean energy face mounting challenges and uncertainty. No matter how the political winds shift, we remain united by our shared desires: to have access to affordable, reliable energy for our homes and businesses, and to thrive in healthy, clean communities.
The good news: inclusive utility investments offer a beacon of opportunity, driving progress without relying on public funding. While they’re already making waves, public funding acts as a turbo boost, propelling us toward a cleaner, more efficient, and just energy future.
But wait, there’s more! Emerging opportunities are lighting the way for a faster clean energy transition. Virtual power plants (VPPs) are revolutionizing the grid by connecting smart thermostats, demand-response tech, bidirectional EV chargers, and more. These innovations reduce the need for new peak generation and boost energy efficiency. When driven by inclusive utility investments, we can bring additional VPP benefits directly into homes, businesses, and transportation.
This progress would not be possible without the collaboration and dedication of our many partners and allies committed to a just energy transition. Together, we can shape a future where clean energy isn’t just a luxury, but a reality for everyone, whether it’s powering your home, running your business, or charging your car.
Want to be part of this exciting journey? Come join us in making this vision come to life!
