Clean Energy to Communities Program: In-Depth Partnerships

What are C2C In-Depth Partnerships?

In-depth partnerships help communities develop a validated plan to put clean energy ambitions into action and address key energy challenges. Partnerships are composed of local government, community-based organizations, electric utilities, and other key organizations that can represent the community. These partnership teams work alongside national laboratory staff to apply robust modeling and analysis tools and conduct hardware-in-the-loop demonstration of solutions adapted to the community's unique conditions and contexts. This multiyear partnership allows local decision makers to evaluate and test potential scenarios and strategies in their energy transition before full technology deployment, thereby lowering risks to implementation.

Eligibility

C2C in-depth partnerships accept community teams composed of:

• Local governments
• Community-based organizations
• Utilities.

In-depth partnerships focus broadly on cross-sectoral issues related to renewable energy, mobility, and buildings. Energy security, resilience, and disaster preparedness—as well as energy equity and environmental justice—are also considered.

Communities selected for in-depth partnerships are provided:

• A dedicated point of contact within the national laboratory system
• Direct subcontract funding to support staff or consultants
• Facilitation and community engagement support
• Extensive technical support from the DOE national laboratory complex.

C2C worked with Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks, Alaska, to evaluate and de-risk its transition to clean energy options in a partnership that helped shape the current in-depth partnership offering.