What is the Clean Energy Academy?
The Clean Energy Academy will run for 6 months (May 2024 – November 2024). During this time, RMI and America Is All In would provide:
- A Workshop Series: Facilitated workshops to actively engage content experts and learn from peer organizations about key technical issues, lessons learned, and outstanding questions. Topics may include the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits, including the ITC, 45W, 30C, and 179D, bonus credits, and related concepts such as stacking and green financing.
- Technical Assistance : Office hours for one-on-one support to ensure that organizations are designing and planning strong projects for clean energy implementation that qualify for federal tax credits.
- Tools and Resources: Direct pay memos, best practices, and other tools that will accelerate Academy members’ planning process.
What are the key outcomes?
- Identify potential projects that align with the organization’s needs and goals and how projects may be eligible for tax credits or other funding and financing (i.e. EV chargers, geothermal heat pumps, etc.).
- Plan a successful project, issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for local contractors, and begin construction of the project.
- Activate new clean energy technology or infrastructure that will produce cleaner power, use less energy, and save energy costs.
- Collect the enhanced tax credits’ cash refund via direct pay to recoup at least 30% of the project’s costs, apply for grant programs (if applicable) and utilize new financing options.
What are participant expectations?
While participation in the program is free, RMI is only able to support a limited number of participating organizations. As such, selected institutions will be asked to demonstrate the following features as part of their request to participate:
- Ambition: Participants must have concrete short-term goals or project ideas related to equitable decarbonization in the next year.
- Implementation: The Academy will require active participation. Academy participants will need the necessary internal buy-in and approvals from decisionmakers and stakeholders (Note: RMI also recommends that participants integrate one or more stakeholders in the first two months of the program).
- Commitment: Participants must be able to dedicate an estimated 3-5 hours per month of staff time.
Meet the Class of 2024
Participants were selected based on their ability to demonstrate concrete short-term goals or project ideas for equitable decarbonization; secure the necessary internal buy-in and approvals from decision-makers and stakeholders within their organization; and dedicate the necessary time and resources to participate in the Academy. A list of the participating organizations is available below:
- Adamah, Maryland
- Bates College, Maine
- Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO), Montana
- Catawba College, North Carolina
- Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Ohio
- Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, California
- Emory University, Georgia
- Intermountain Health, Utah
- Loyola University Chicago, Illinois
- Northern Light Health, Maine
- NYC Health + Hospitals Corp., New York
- OhioHealth, Ohio
- Rutgers University, New Jersey
- San Diego Natural History Museum, California
- Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota
- Southern Sustainability Institute, Georgia
- The Wild Center, New York
- University of New Mexico, New Mexico
- University of Richmond, Virginia
- The University of Vermont Health Network, Vermont & New York
Get a sneak peek of what participants have been up to
Story highlight: Loyola University Chicago
Between two campus buildings and with Lake Michigan as a backdrop, twenty-two geothermal wells lay hidden underground at Loyola University Chicago. Though not the only geothermal system on campus, these wells came about recently as a “project of opportunity”— while undertaking a stormwater management project that uncovered this area of campus, the university realized it was a perfect place to add additional wells. Set to power two buildings and produce 135,000 kWh, the project also qualifies for Inflation Reduction Act funding, which the university is applying for with help from the Clean Energy Academy. With the wells hidden from view, Loyola has found other ways to make the project visible to students, so the floor of the School of Environmental Sustainability reveals the inner workings of another part of their geothermal system, with educational signs to show what’s happening under their feet.
Between two campus buildings and with Lake Michigan as a backdrop, twenty-two geothermal wells lay hidden underground at Loyola University Chicago. Though not the only geothermal system on campus, these wells came about recently as a “project of opportunity”— while undertaking a stormwater management project that uncovered this area of campus, the university realized it was a perfect place to add additional wells. Set to power two buildings and produce 135,000 kWh, the project also qualifies for Inflation Reduction Act funding, which the university is applying for with help from the Clean Energy Academy. With the wells hidden from view, Loyola has found other ways to make the project visible to students, so the floor of the School of Environmental Sustainability reveals the inner workings of another part of their geothermal system, with educational signs to show what’s happening under their feet.
Story Highlight: Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO) and Big Sky Community Housing Trust
Solar panels can provide affordable housing with greater energy efficiency and lower electricity bills for residents. Big Sky SNO knew this and approached Big Sky Community Housing Trust to power the new Riverview apartment complex with solar energy—but they didn’t realize how much they could get back in federal tax credits until they participated in the Clean Energy Academy and learned they could leverage Direct Pay incentives to offset the upfront cost of the project. And with annual resident savings of $600, this partnership shows that future opportunities could yield similar benefits.
Solar panels can provide affordable housing with greater energy efficiency and lower electricity bills for residents. Big Sky SNO knew this and approached Big Sky Community Housing Trust to power the new Riverview apartment complex with solar energy—but they didn’t realize how much they could get back in federal tax credits until they participated in the Clean Energy Academy and learned they could leverage Direct Pay incentives to offset the upfront cost of the project. And with annual resident savings of $600, this partnership shows that future opportunities could yield similar benefits.
Story Highlight: University of New Mexico
The rooftop of the Student Union Building at the University of New Mexico provides a perfect place for solar panels to soak up the strong New Mexico sun and power the buildings below. With an array on part of the rooftop and plans for panels to cover the rest of it, the university has big goals for the future of renewable energy at the school. The university is taking advantage of not just the 30% Investment Tax Credit for the project, but also the low-income adder, which adds an additional incentive for projects located in low-income communities.
The rooftop of the Student Union Building at the University of New Mexico provides a perfect place for solar panels to soak up the strong New Mexico sun and power the buildings below. With an array on part of the rooftop and plans for panels to cover the rest of it, the university has big goals for the future of renewable energy at the school. The university is taking advantage of not just the 30% Investment Tax Credit for the project, but also the low-income adder, which adds an additional incentive for projects located in low-income communities.