Our Work
Our world is currently not on a path to reach the goal of 100% clean energy for everyone. However, there is a viable model – inclusive utility investments – but it’s not spreading fast enough to make a difference.
Clean Energy Works catalyzes adoption of inclusive utility investments. We build bridges between community champions, leading utility executives, and policy-makers to create bright spots of innovation in the power sector. By connecting these champions, we forge productive relationships that accelerate the adoption of clean energy solutions.
Clean Energy Works accelerates the adoption of inclusive utility investments to transform the power, building, and transportation sectors, by providing:
Advisory Services
Provide coaching and capacity building support to utilities as well as partners and allies that are engaging stakeholders in strategic geographies.
Policy & Regulatory Support
Providing technical assistance for the development of federal and state policies and regulations that catalyze and further inclusive utility investments.
Outreach & Engagement
Create and build relationships with existing and emergent champions through sector-specific networks.
Research
Rigorously pursue questions that can accelerate policy approval and commercial adoption of inclusive utility investments.
Clean Energy Works advances inclusive utility investments and related program designs focused on four critical components:
Energy Efficiency & Demand Response
This includes a wide array of technology installations (smart thermostats, etc) and energy management upgrades (building insulation, double paned windows, etc.) that collectively reduce the energy load at the consumer site.
On-site Alternative Generation
Primarily through on-site solar that provides renewable distributed energy and increased grid resiliency.
Storage & Resilience
Such as two-way electric vehicle chargers that allow vehicular batteries to return energy to the grid (e.g., at peak demand).
Electrification
Electrifying the building and transportation sectors.
Upfront costs are a significant barrier to making clean energy upgrades.
Reliance on government subsidies, personal debt, or qualifying criteria such as income, credit history, or home ownership limit where upgrades can take place and contribute to a clean energy divide that excludes low-income communities and communities of color.
At the same time, utilities are looking to “electrify everything” as a decarbonization strategy because of potential increased sales from displacing gas use in buildings for heating and cooking and in transportation. Utilities can make inclusive utility investments as part of the essential services they deliver and pay for the upfront cost of clean energy upgrades while recovering their costs on the customer’s utility bill.
Clean Energy Works catalyzes adoption of inclusive utility investments, helping utilities create business plans for the future that allow more households to benefit from clean energy upgrades — a solution that works for both communities and utilities.
Powering buildings efficiently, with clean and affordable energy
Emissions from our homes and other buildings remain a stubborn source of carbon emissions. Inclusive utility investments have the power to rapidly transform them into energy efficient buildings with all-electric heating and cooling, so that residents can stay safe and healthy while keeping energy bills affordable.
Clean Energy Works supported the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance’s development of The Utility Guide to Tariffed On-Bill Programs. This guide addresses practical considerations faced by those charged with developing or improving energy efficiency programs. Read More
Using vehicle fleets to stabilize the grid, save maintenance and fuel costs, and reduce transportation emissions
Inclusive utility investments can help public transportation agencies, school districts, and other heavy duty vehicle owners transform their fleets into mobile power sources that charge when energy demand is low, and feed power back into the grid during peak times. Owners save money on maintenance and operation costs, while keeping the air cleaner for everyone.
Clean Energy Works partnered with Roanoke Electric Cooperative and Fermata Energy to measure the potential for EVs to improve grid reliability while putting downward pressure on electricity rates for all ratepayers. Read More
Too many people are effectively locked out of the economic opportunity that on-site solar investments present.
The ability to access on-site solar is often determined by whether a household can either pay cash upfront or arrange financing for a 20-year investment. Most households in the United States are not able or willing to do either on their own.
As part of the LIFT Solar Everywhere project, Clean Energy Works developed a model that quantifies the financial benefits of on-site solar for utilities and customers in various markets with different economic conditions. Read More