Implementation Tools and Programs
100% RE Building Blocks: A Practical Toolkit for a Sustainable Transition to 100% Renewable Energy, The Global 100% Renewable Energy Campaign
The Global 100% Renewable Energy campaign is an international coalition of NGO's. This toolkit is both a guideline for city action and a resource to evaluate the performance and achievements of a community's efforts. Learn more.
Clean Energy for Low Income Accelerator Program, U.S. Department of Energy
This program aims to lower energy bills in low-to-moderate income communities through expanded installation of energy efficiency and distributed renewables. Low-to-moderate income households spend an average of 6 to 7 percent of their income on energy bills, 2-3 times more than the average household. Learn more.
Equity in Sustainability: An Equity Scan of Local Government Sustainability Programs, Angela Park of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network
By drawing on a wealth of experience and expertise, this report shares 10 best practices that local governments can learn to fully ingrain equity in their sustainability efforts, and concludes with next steps for increasing the impact of sustainability by strengthening equity. Learn more.
From Power to Empowerment: Plugging Low Income Communities Into the Clean Energy Economy, Patrick Sabol of Groundswell
This report details the relationship between renewable energy and economic opportunity in the US, and calls for the acceleration of community solar legislation to drive consumer adoption of programs through community organizations. Learn more.
Just Energy Policies and Practices Action Toolkit, NAACP
Learn how to advance energy policies around clean air, clean water, energy efficiency, economic justice, and receive tips on how to shift the narrative around energy justice and renewable energies. The toolkit provides resources, policy recommendations, community-based solutions, organizing guides and more. Learn more.
Lifting the High Energy Burden in America's Largest Cities: How Energy Efficiency Can Improve Low Income and Underserved Communities, Ariel Drehobl and Lauren Ross of the American Council for an Energy efficient Economy
Building on the research that low-income households pay proportionally more than the average household for energy costs, this study takes a close look at the energy burden of specific household groups in cities across the US, followed by strategies for alleviating these burdens focused on increasing energy efficiency initiatives in communities. Learn more.
Methane Math - How Cities Can Rethink Emissions from Natural Gas, USDN Innovation Fund, 2017
This project enabled USDN core members, associate members, and partners to synthesize available information on methane leaks in natural gas distribution lines into a document to guide the development of policy and program options for municipalities. The final report examines levels of methane leakage in natural gas systems and identifies (1) remediation mechanisms and (2) better methods for accounting for the emissions impacts. Learn more.
Pathways to 100: An Energy Supply Transformation Primer for U.S. Cities, Meister Consulting
Designed to help cities plan for a transition towards a 100% renewable electricity supply, cities and their partners will be able to use "Pathways to 100" to 1) understand their unique energy landscape, 2) identify strategies that are applicable to their utility and state policy context, and 3) organize city staff and external networks to support energy supply transformation. Learn more.
Planning for Healthy Communities Toolkit, The California Environmental Justice Collaborative
Provides guidance on how cities can integrate environmental justice policies into their general plan for a healthy and just community. While this toolkit was created for CA, it offers principles and methods for facilitating successful community engagement plans and shares case studies that highlight model environmental justice planning practices. View more background information here. Learn more.
Renewable Heating & Cooling: Thermal Decarbonization of Residential Buildings, CNCA and USDN Innovation Funds, 2018
This guide provides options and actionable steps for other cities interested in completing similar analyses to guide the development of approaches to transitioning away from fossil fuel-based heating. In particular, this guide discusses key steps and best practices to: (1) Establish goals and parameters for a thermal decarbonization initiative within the local context; (2) Identify and collect data from publicly-available data sources; (3) Conduct a market analysis of the local building stock; and (4) Leverage market analysis to engage key stakeholders and develop policies and programs for scaling the local RH&C market. Learn more.
Feasibility Studies
100% Renewable Energy for All Emily Rochon of Greenpeace International
A presentation of the possibility, methodology, and pathway to reaching 0% global carbon emissions by 2050. Learn more.
100% Wind, Water, Solar: All-Sector Energy Roadmaps for the 50 States and 139 Countries, Mark Z. Jacobson, 100% RE NGO Network
An overview of all-sector solutions to energy, jobs, pollution, and global warming with wind, water and solar. Concludes with world-wide benefits of a global transition to 100% renewables. Learn more.
Global Energy System Based on 100% Renewable Energy Power Sector, and accompanying presentation, Lappeenranta University of Technology, and Energy Watch Group
This study discusses how 100% Renewable Electricity Worldwide is Feasible and More Cost-Effective than the Existing System. Some key findings are:
The global energy transition to a 100% renewable electricity system creates 36 million jobs by 2050 in comparison to 19 million jobs in the 2015 electricity system.
Total levelized cost of electricity on a global average for 100% renewable electricity in 2050 is €52/MWh (including curtailment, storage, and some grid costs), compared to €70/MWh in 2015. Learn more.
Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States, Project of Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations
This study discusses the multiple alternative pathways (using existing commercial, or near commercial technologies) to achieving an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels in the United States by 2050. Learn more.
Renewables Global Futures Report, Great Debates Towards 100% Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
A discussion that presents a variety of expert views and pressing subjects in the hopes that readers gain new, forward-looking insight on global renewable energy. Learn more.
We Have the Power: 100% Renewable Energy for a Clean Thriving America, Environment America and the Frontier Group
A detailed analysis of why the US needs to transition to a clean energy system, how this is already within reach, and what benefits will be achieved. Learn more.
Research Tools
Community Renewables Map, Institute for Local Self Reliance
An interactive illustration of how communities are transitioning toward 100% renewable energy and how policies are helping or hurting local action in the effort. Learn more.
Freeing the Grid
See how your state's net-metering and interconnection policies measure up in this interactive map developed by Vote Solar, IREC, and EG Research. Learn more.
Project Sunroof, powered by Google Earth
Search for homes in the US to analyze its potential for solar, and discover the potential energy savings, or see potential impacts of solar across entire geographic areas. Learn more.
SLED - State and Local Energy Data, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Access to comprehensive energy use and activity data that can help your city plan and implement clean energy projects. A city's energy profile includes summary reports on. Learn more.
US Wind Industry Map, American Wind Energy Association
This interactive map shows how wind positively impacts cities across the US. Find the wind farms and turbine factories in each state. Learn more.
Organizations
CDP
- Read CDP's report on "The World's Renewable Energy Cities"
- Cities and other local governments can participate in annual disclosure of their carbon emissions and gain access to data of the other participating cities, governments, and businesses.
Clean Energy Group
Institute for Energy and Environment
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See their presentation on the burden of high energy costs for low income families, and solar energy as a solution.
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And follow up with their report, infographic, and one-pager on energy justice in Maryland
ICLEI USA
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ICLEI's 100% Renewable Energy Network is a convenient and free platform to highlight the leadership and best practices of communities powered by or aspiring to be powered by 100% renewable energy (100% RE).
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Local governments can utilize their community benchmarking tool, Carbonn.
Institute for Local Self Reliance
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Find out how your state is performing in their 2018 Community Power Scorecard.
Lawyers for Good Government
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Lawyers for Good Government is a proud partner of the Ready for 100 Campaign. Learn more about L4GG's work here: https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org
LEAN Energy USA
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Lean offers a comprehensive review of community choice aggregation programs that are in operation or in development across the U.S.
National Renewable Energy Lab
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Search tools and resources on the City Energy Action Toolbox.
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Find an estimated city energy profile for each U.S. city on the State and Local Energy Data site.
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Review their assessment on: Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States.
Re-Volv
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Re-volv lets people put solar on the places they care about, giving them a way to take direct action on climate change.
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Become a Solar Champion and help crowdfund for a solar project on a school, community center, or faith center near you.
The Rocky Mountain Institute
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Their Carbon-Free Cities Handbook outlines a range of steps cities can take to reduce carbon emissions. 100% renewable energy is featured as a pathway, including sample RFPs for municipal procurement.
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And Breaking Ground: New Models That Deliver Energy Solutions to Low-Income Customers profiles new types of arrangements to give low-income customers the potential to participate in distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar.