Decision Support for Local Governments and Communities

NLR provides decision support, technical assistance, and resources to help U.S. local governments and local communities plan for and implement energy solutions.

Technical Assistance

NLR offers technical expertise to help local governments strengthen their energy systems and navigate their energy challenges and goals.

Energy to Communities

Energy Improvements in Rural and Remote Areas

Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project

Solar Energy Innovation Network

Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance

NLR previously provided technical assistance for solar power at universities and energy on mine lands.

Explore all technical assistance opportunities.

Resources and Tools for Projects

NLR develops and provides resources and tools to help local governments navigate energy projects.

State and Local Planning for Energy Platform

This online platform supports data-driven state and local energy planning.

Community Solar

This distributed solar energy deployment model allows customers to buy or lease part of a larger, off-site shared solar photovoltaic system.

Success Stories

Publications

NREL Tools and Partnership Opportunities for Rural Electric Cooperatives in the United States, NLR Fact Sheet (2025)

Updated Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Rules: A Guide for Local Authorities, NLR Fact Sheet (2023)

Community Energy Planning: Best Practices and Lessons Learned in NREL's Work with Communities, NLR Technical Report (2022)

Local Power: Comparing the County-Level Renewable Energy Potential to Consumption Using the SLOPE Platform, NLR Technical Report (2022)

Distributed Solar Adoption in Orlando: A Household-Level Model for Distribution Resource Planning, NLR Presentation (2021)

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