Clean Energy to Communities Program

The Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program provides communities with expertise and tools to achieve their clean energy goals through in-depth partnerships, peer-learning cohorts, and expert match.

C2C Clean Energy to Communities U.S. Department of Energy logo surrounded by images of people, electric vehicle plug, power transmission lines, and rooftop solar panels.

Program Offerings

In-Depth Partnerships

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Peer-Learning Cohorts

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Expert Match

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Quick Guide to C2C

  • Time commitment: Long (3-year partnership)
  • Eligible participants: Community teams composed of local governments, community-based organizations, and utilities
  • Application cycle: A request for proposal is open through June 14, 2024
  • Who it is for: Communities interested in sustained support through project design and deployment
  • Interaction type: Tailored to individual community
  • Project type: Any renewable energy, energy efficiency, or transportation electrification planning project
  • Expected number of communities supported: Six.*

*Number of communities is subject to Congressional appropriations.

  • Time commitment: Medium (approximately 6 months)
  • Eligible participants: Varies by cohort, but can include city, town, and county governments; tribes, including Alaska Native Villages, Alaska Native Corporations, and state recognized tribes; metropolitan and regional planning organizations; electric utilities; and community-based organizations
  • Application cycle: Applications for the cohorts that start in July 2024 are open through April 30, 2024
  • Who it is for: Communities with interests in specific clean-energy topics
  • Interaction type: Peer-learning groups and expert guidance
  • Project type: Specific, with evolving topics
  • Expected number of communities supported: Approximately 100 per year.*

*Number of communities is subject to Congressional appropriations.

  • Time commitment: Short (40–60 total hours)
  • Eligible participants: City, town, county, and local governments; tribes, including Alaska Native Villages, Alaska Native Corporations, and state recognized tribes; metropolitan and regional planning organizations; community-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations; utilities; universities
  • Application cycle: Applications are open and reviewed on a rolling basis
  • Who it is for: Communities exploring a local energy challenge but that may lack the capacity to conduct analysis
  • Interaction type: Tailored to individual community
  • Project type: Any projects relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or transportation electrification
  • Expected number of communities supported: Approximately 200 per year.*

*Number of communities is subject to Congressional appropriations.

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C2C Open Opportunities

In-Depth Partnerships: Watch the informational webinar about In-Depth Partnerships on YouTube, register on Zoom to attend a follow-up webinar on May 14, and submit proposals on Sam.gov by June 14.

Peer-Learning Cohorts: Watch the informational webinar about Peer-Learning Cohorts on YouTube and apply by April 30.

Expert Match: Apply now.

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, which recognizes 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.

Read the C2C 2023 Annual Highlights report.

C2C is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by NREL with support from Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

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.

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