The toolkit consists of eight modules providing practical, user-friendly guidance on how communities of color and low-income communities can take action to phase out toxic energy like coal, nuclear, and oil facilities and bring in clean energy like wind and solar.
Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool
The Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool is designed to help states, communities and other stakeholders create better energy strategies and programs by improving their understanding of low income housing and energy characteristics.
On-Site Solar Pitch Deck Template
This pitch deck can be utilized to help secure buy-in from key decision makers for an on-site solar project. It includes customizable slides to calculate or speak to the climate, jobs, health, economics, resilience, and visibility benefits of an on-site project. Additionally, it includes information and case studies for financing and ownership structures.
Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) Models
NRL’s Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) models estimate the economic impact of various renewable energy projects. The solar PV model is no longer officially supported by NREL but is available upon request.
Unlocking Solar for Low- and Moderate-Income Residents: A Matrix of Financing Options by Resident, Provider, and Housing Type
NREL’s report aims to identify the most promising strategies state policymakers might consider using to finance PV for low- and moderate-income customers across three housing types: single family, multi-family, and manufactured housing.
Low-Income Solar Policy Guide
This website provides case studies and policy recommendations to promote the uptake of solar in low-income communities.
Design and Implementation of Community Solar Programs for Low- and Moderate-Income Customers
This report draws from literature and interviews with representatives from solar developers and state community solar programs to provide experience on low- and moderate-income community solar design.
Equity Foundations
This webpage helps local government staff to apply an equity lens to a sustainability project, including choosing a good project, communicating about the project and racial equity, building a team, applying proven equity tools, and designing the project to embed an equity lens in local government practice.
Framework for an Equitable Energy Supply Transformation
This framework can help cities embed equity in city energy supply transformation to low or zero carbon sources. The guide helps users understand potential policy and program impacts via the lenses of procedural, distributional, structural, and transgenerational equity, and includes themed sets of guiding questions city staff and other stakeholders can consider when developing plans and policies for transforming their energy supply to meet their climate goals.
Equitable Clean Energy Guidance Book
This guide helps local governments and their partners intentionally design programs that enable current and emerging clean energy technologies to be accessed equitably.