Clean Energy to Communities Program

The Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program provides communities with expertise and tools to achieve their clean energy goals. C2C is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by NREL.

C2C: Clean Energy to Communities, U.S. Department of Energy

C2C connects local governments, tribes, electric utilities, and community-based organizations with national laboratory experts and customized, cutting-edge analysis to achieve clean energy systems that are reflective of local and regional priorities. By bringing together innovative technology, state-of-the-art modeling, and unique abilities to test clean energy plans before installing them in the field, C2C can help close the gap between clean energy ambitions and real-world deployment. Communities lie at the heart of C2C, recognizing that when it comes to clean energy, each community has different institutional contexts, resources, challenges, opportunities, and ambitions. C2C fosters community-led innovation with tailored support, from goal-setting and project development to technology deployment.

Program Offerings

C2C offers three types of support to communities: in-depth partnerships, peer-learning cohorts, and expert match.

C2C Program Offerings At-a-Glance
  In-Depth Partnerships Peer-Learning Cohorts Expert Match
Time Commitment Long (3-year partnership) Medium (periodically, over approximately 6 months) Short (40–60 total hours)
Eligibility Community teams composed of local governments, community-based organizations, and utilities

Varies by cohort. Can include:

Tribal, city, town, and county governments; metropolitan and regional planning organizations

Electric utilities

Community-based organizations

City, town, county, and tribal governments; metropolitan and regional planning organizations; community-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations; utilities; universities
Who Is It For? Communities interested in sustained support through project design and deployment Communities with interests in specific clean energy themes or topics Communities exploring a local energy challenge but that may lack staff capacity to conduct analysis
Interaction Type Tailored to individual community Peer-learning groups and expert guidance Tailored to individual community
Project Type Any renewable energy, energy efficiency, or transportation electrification planning project Specific; evolving topics Any projects relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or transportation electrification
Expected Number of Communities Supported 4–5* ~100* ~200*

*Number of communities is subject to Congressional appropriations.

Sign Up for Updates

To receive email updates about the C2C program, complete and submit the sign-up form.

Contact

If you have questions about the C2C program, please email C2C@nrel.gov.