This RFQ provides an example of how a city can procure technical expertise to develop and implement a local solar strategy. The document outlines qualifications sought for solar planning, financing, ownership models, community solar development, policy analysis, and project implementation support. Cities can use this resource as a reference when seeking consultants to evaluate solar deployment opportunities, develop financing strategies, assess regulatory considerations, and support municipal solar project development.
City of Minneapolis-Request for Information for Electricity from Renewable Generation Sources (2019)
RFI issued by the City of Minneapolis in 2019 to explore renewable electricity procurement options capable of meeting 100% renewable energy goals for both municipal operations and community-wide electricity use. The document outlines the city’s objectives, including additionality, local generation, affordability, workforce development, and long-term contracting considerations. Other local governments can use this RFI as a model for assessing renewable energy market opportunities, engaging potential suppliers, and shaping procurement strategies that align with ambitious clean energy and community-benefit goals.
Utility Rate Cases 101: How Local Governments Can Address Rising Electricity Prices
This webinar introduces utility rate cases and explains how local governments can engage in regulatory proceedings to address rising electricity costs. It covers the basics of rate-setting, opportunities for local government participation, and strategies for advocating for affordability, clean energy, and community priorities in utility decision-making.
Power Moves: Local Government Strategy for Utility & PUC Collaboration
This webinar explores how local governments can develop effective strategies for engaging with utilities and public utility commissions (PUCs). It provides a framework for identifying engagement opportunities, aligning utility and regulatory actions with city goals, and building stakeholder support through real-world examples and practical lessons from local governments.
Partnerships Plugged In: Regional Coalitions Advancing Energy Policy
This webinar explores how regional coalitions of local governments can collaborate to influence utility and regulatory decision-making. Through case studies and practitioner insights, it highlights strategies for coalition building, engagement in utility planning and rate cases, and advancing clean energy and affordability goals through regional partnerships.
The Expanding Role of Local Governments in Transmission Planning
This webinar explores how local governments can engage in transmission planning and shape the development of the electric grid. It explains the implications of FERC Order 1920, highlights opportunities for local government participation, and discusses how transmission planning can support clean energy deployment, affordability, and grid reliability.
Local Governments Can Achieve Texas-Sized Impacts from Distributed Energy Assets and Virtual Power Plants
This report explores how local governments can leverage distributed energy resources and virtual power plants to enhance grid reliability, reduce energy costs, improve resilience, and support clean energy goals. The report highlights opportunities for cities to accelerate adoption through local policies, procurement, and program design.
The Impacts of Wholesale Market Rules and Policies on Clean Energy Goals: A Primer for Local Governments
This paper discusses the evolving rules and policies of wholesale markets that can create barriers to local governments’ achievement of an effective and rapid clean energy transition. The report reviews the current barriers associated with transmission, market rules, and stakeholder processes across these markets while considering how these barriers affect local government clean energy and decarbonization goals, and the role of effective engagement in addressing these barriers.
Utilizing the Local Energy Action Framework (LEAF) to Prioritize Decarbonization Projects
While local governments across the United States have announced 100 percent renewable energy or carbon-neutrality goals for their operations, understanding what these goals entail and how they should prioritize various projects remains a challenge. While many energy models have been developed for utility resource planning, these frameworks are costly and more technical than most cities and counties need.
Advancing Local Government Goals through Wholesale Market Engagement: A Series of Case Studies
Local governments are becoming increasingly aware of the important role of wholesale market operators in decarbonization, the deployment of clean energy, and grid reliability. Wholesale market operators include regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs). Due to the technical and time-intensive nature of the process for engaging with RTOs, local governments frequently have a difficult time engaging in stakeholder and market processes. This report outlines case studies in which two municipalities and one coalition of local governments have successfully used innovative strategies to engage with their RTOs. The case studies feature the town of Hanover, NH; the PJM Cities and Communities Coalition; and the City of Castle Hills, TX.