Planning Tools

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Communities can learn about and move towards clean energy goals using resources that offer technical assistance, data analysis and educational guides. These tools are provided by government agencies and non-profit organizations to facilitate informed decision-making and strategic planning.

GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL LABORATORY RESOURCES

Federal agencies and national laboratories offer robust tools and guidance for communities pursuing clean energy transitions:

EPA's Energy Resources for State, Local and Tribal Governments: This program provides technical assistance, analytical tools, and outreach support. Key resources include the Avoided Emissions and generation Tool (AVERT) to estimate emission benefits of renewable energy programs and the Energy Efficiency Benefits Calculator.
NREL's Community Energy Planning Assistance: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) works directly with communities to identify energy-related goals and outline solutions using NREL data and analysis capabilities.
State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE)Guides: This NREL resource provides data-driven energy planning guides and a Scenario Planner tool to help users understand the impacts of various clean energy strategies (e.g., electrification, grid modernization, energy efficiency).
Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program: This program connects local governments, tribes, electric utilities, and community-based organizations with national laboratory experts for customized analysis.
HUD Renewable Energy Toolkit: Developed for housing and community development (CPD) grant recipients, this toolkit offers in-depth explanations of technologies like solar PV, solar thermal, and geothermal heat pumps.

PLANNING AND EDUCATIONAL TOOLS

These tools help communities formulate strategies, assess feasibility, and educate residents:

Community Energy Strategic Plan (CESP) Guides: The Department of Energy provides a step-by-step process for creating a robust strategic energy plan that can help save money and create local jobs.
A Toolkit for Community Clean Energy Programs: This guide from the Western Resource Advocates provides practical methods for community organizations to advance energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy projects and prepare funding proposals.
EPA's Household Carbon Footprint Calculator: This simple calculator helps communities educate residents about their personal greenhouse gas emissions, supporting community-wide reduction efforts.
Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs): Local Authorities use this spatial planning approach to identify energy implications of development projects and the necessary changes to the local energy system to achieve net-zero goals.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Organizations like C40 Cities recommend developing simple, understandable informational materials and running educational sessions and social media campaigns to win public support for local clean energy initiatives.

DATA AND MAPPING RESOURCES

NREL's PV Watts Calculator: This free data portal helps communities and individuals estimate the energy production and cost savings of potential solar energy systems.
EPA's Green Power Partnership: A program offering expert advice, tools, and resources for organizational procurement of green power.

CURRENT NEWS

Jul 31 2026

Bloomberg

The Age of Unstoppable Wildfires Has Reached Europe

By Nayla Razzouk and Others 07/31/26

In a forest near Lège-Cap-Ferret, west of Bordeaux, Matthieu Jomain directs his crews as they fire water jets into the vegetation. Dense gray smoke seeps along the forest floor.

Jul 22 2026

The New York Times

Nothing Can Prevent the New Wildfires. We Have to Adapt.

By David Wallace-Wells 07/22/26

Climate anomalies arrive first as a shock, and then as a pattern. But what does the pattern reveal? The skies above New York are now cleared of smoke, after several grim and portentous days when…

Jul 18 2026

The New York Times

As Natural Disasters Expand, a Disaster-Tracking App Is Booming

By Scott Dance 07/18/26

A sheriff in Southern Colorado posted a frightening map on social media this month. It depicted an angry red zone, dotted with flame icons, where wildfires were burning. And a blue zone nearby showed where…

Jun 16 2026

Inside Climate News

‘Sponge Cities’ Are Catching On. But Can They Handle Supercharged Storms?

By Kiley Price 06/16/26

In 2011, a short but catastrophic cloudburst hammered Copenhagen, flooding parts of the Danish city with more than 5 inches of rain in a single day. The storm caused more than $1 billion in damages.…

Jun 02 2026

Yale Climate Connections

Extreme heat is hitting rural America hard

By YCC Team 06/02/26

Climate change is causing more extremely hot days in many parts of the U.S., and a recent report highlights the danger that heat can pose to rural residents.

Sep 25 2025

The New York Times

How Cities Are Beating the Heat

By Monika Cvorak 09/25/25

The climate crisis has contributed to record-breaking summer temperatures in recent years, and 2025 looks to have continued the trend. Here’s how some places around the world are trying to cope.

Sep 18 2025

Climate Central

Weather 2.0: How AI and Balloons Are Shaping the Future of Forecasting

09/18/25

We all check the weather — some of us, religiously. But even with dozens of apps and real-time radar maps at our fingertips, forecasts can still feel frustratingly uncertain.

Jul 07 2023

Yale Climate Connections

How local-level laws can protect trees during construction

By YCC Team 07/07/23

Large trees bring a lot of benefits to cities. They offer shade and local cooling and help reduce stormwater runoff. So they can help urban areas adapt to climate change.

Apr 26 2023

The Hill

Bringing climate risk home, one property at a time

By Saul Elbein 04/26/23

By the time a homeowner who buys a house today pays off a typical mortgage, there is a good chance they will live in a different climate — one threatened by stronger winds, more frequent…

May 28 2022

Sierra Club

Here’s a Policy Playbook You Can Use to Fight Climate Change

By John Dernbach and Joe DiMona 05/28/22

The gap between the scale of climate change action we need now and the climate change action we are witnessing from corporations and governments is growing. Earlier this year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change…

Jan 11 2021

World Economic Forum

Decarbonizing cities – how to harmonize buildings, mobility and infrastructure

By Francesco Starace and Jean-Pascal Tricoire 01/11/21

An integrated approach is needed to fully decarbonize cities. Digitalization across buildings, mobility and energy infrastructure is key to achieving net zero carbon. Decarbonizing cities will not just benefit the environment, but also the jobs…

Jul 08 2020

living architecture monitor

Chicago Green Infrastructure: A History and Moving Forward

07/08/20

The pace of urbanization across the world has been impressive but as we look back today, a common trend is how often nature has been left out of our urban equations. As development expands, valuable…

KEY RESOURCES

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CCA

ZONING

BUILDING CODES

LAWS

If you see no icon in front of an entry, it means the entry covers more than one subject.

epa

GHG Reduction Programs & Strategies

06/06/22

A wide range of strategies are available to help organizations reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Below are a list of resources and guides to help your organization identify and implement GHG reduction opportunities.

saveon energy

How solar power works

02/11/22

Solar energy is quickly becoming a more popular and affordable power source for homeowners and businesses. With residential solar energy, you can lower your carbon footprint and see substantial cost savings.

Implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act: A Virtual Roundtable Series

01/18/21

States and municipalities are learning from each other in a series of stunning webinars focusing on specific solutions. Although designed to illuminate New York’s 2019 landmark climate law, they are fascinating for everyone, experts and…

Take Action in Your Home, School, or Community

07/16/20

We believe that individual actions matter. Our actions can create ripple effects that inspire and motivate collective actions, moving us towards the systemic change we need to tackle an issue like climate change.

Report: City Power Play – 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy

04/14/20

The economy has stalled and so has the war on climate change. But dozens of cities are creating jobs and cleaner energy using their own power.

COMMUNITY ENERGY RESOURCE GUIDE

04/14/20

Communities are at the forefront of the energy transition: citizens are increasingly asking their cities to develop and act on ambitious plans, and community leaders are seeing the social, political, and economic benefits of doing…

Municipal Financing for Renewables and Efficiency

04/09/20

A growing number of states are enacting laws or have existing statutes that enable cities and counties to overcome one of the biggest obstacles to significant investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency—lack of access…

NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities

04/09/20

NYSERDA has identified ten high-impact actions that local governments can take to save money, foster a vibrant economy, and improve the environment. By completing four of the ten high-impact actions, the applying jurisdiction can earn…

Clean Energy Communities Grants – Remaining Awards

04/09/20

This dashboard provides regularly updated information on the number and amount of remaining grants in each region by community size. Select your region to view the grants available for your community. Grants are available to…

Clean Energy Programs

04/09/20

EPA’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs are designed to help energy consumers in all sectors, state policy makers, and energy providers by providing objective information, creating networks between the public and private sector and…

A Toolkit for Community Clean Energy Programs

04/09/20

Practical methods for community organizations to advance energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy.

Guide to Community Energy Strategic Planning

04/09/20

This guide introduces the Community Energy Strategic Plan (CESP) approach, a step-by-step process for creating a robust strategic energy plan for your government and community that can help save money, create local jobs, and improve…

Clean Energy Communities Program

04/08/20

Building a more sustainable New York starts with building more sustainable communities. Local governments affect energy choices in their communities, from government operations to homes, businesses, and community institutions.

Mass Energize

01/31/22

MassEnergize works with community organizers and local leaders to scale household and community-level climate actions. Our work is based on the belief that household-level climate action, propelled at scale, is critical for reaching our climate…

City of Ithaca Green New Deal

01/31/22

The Ithaca Green New Deal is a mission-oriented and collaborative approach to carbon neutrality by 2030. It represents a multi-year mobilization effort, aimed at altering the economy and enabling a new social contract, effectively redefining…

LPDD

Model Laws for Deep Carbonization in the U.S.

01/31/22

This website provides more than 2000 model and actual federal, state and local laws that legislatures can customize and adopt in order to achieve deep reductions in fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

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MORE NEWS

the kansas city star

COVID-19 in an opportunity to build a Kansas City better prepared for climate change

By Tom Jacobs 07/08/20

In the Kansas City region, there is hope and resilience in the time of COVID-19. We stand on the shoulders of leaders and poets alike, clear that we will overcome current challenges, creating a new…

the earth institute

Workshop Will Teach the Basics of Community Organizing

By Tara Stafford 07/06/20

n the midst of the numerous intersecting pandemics we are struggling to address — COVID-19, racism, and climate change — it can feel overwhelming to know how best to contribute toward meaningful change.

Indianapolis Star

How has Indianapolis responded to climate change?

By Anne Snabes 07/06/20

Over the course of six meetings, a new City-County Council commission will assess Indianapolis' response to climate change — and do so in a way that also embraces the concept of environmental equity.

pbs

How Communities Can Adapt to Climate Change

By Ana Aceves 06/29/20

Climate change’s effects are already being felt today, so adapting will be necessary—and it doesn't have to hurt. Explore how building resilience can have a silver lining.

urban milwaukee

Barnes Calls on Wisconsin to Tackle Climate Change

By Isiah Holmes 06/20/20

Next week the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change will hold two listening sessions — virtually — to hear how Wisconsinites are being affected by climate change, as well as soliciting ideas for solutions that…

Austin Monitor

City reworks its Community Climate Plan through an equity lens

By Jessi Devenyns 06/09/20

Five years ago, Austin’s Office of Sustainability began implementing its 2030 Community Climate Plan in order to work toward the city’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Vtdigger

Vermont Businesses Call For More Local Renewable Electricity

04/08/20

Businesses from all sectors of the economy wrote to lawmakers and government officials, expressing support for “a 100% renewable energy standard that supports significant expansion of renewable projects built in Vermont by Vermonters.”

Kenosha news

Toolkit offers local governments a guide to harnessing clean energy

By Chris Hubbuch 03/11/20

Agroup of environmental organizations is offering to help local governments in Wisconsin address climate change and save money through a guide it has published on clean energy initiatives.

Energy News Network

Ohio solar project will benefit low-income communities

By Kathiann M. Kowalski 03/11/20

An innovative solar project in Toledo will do triple duty when it’s completed this spring. It will provide renewable power to a nearby axle factory. It will use otherwise unproductive land. And hundreds of thousands…

The Eagle Tribune

Column: State must switch to clean energy

By Rep. Tram Nguyen 03/10/20

Parts of my own district suffered terrible damage during the explosions and fires on Sept. 13, 2018, which resulted in the death of a young man, Leonel Rondon, tens of thousands of residents displaced, hundreds…

NRDC

Celebrating Peoria’s Clean Energy Future

By Celena Kyle and Neeti Jain 03/10/20

We just celebrated a milestone in NRDC’s work to end illegal and deadly ash pollution from the E.D. Edwards coal-fired power plant near Peoria, Illinois. Had the plant’s owners invested in the modern pollution controls…

Daily Energy Insider

Ameren Illinois unveils new plan to help Illinois reach 100 percent clean energy by 2050

By Chris Galford 03/09/20

Ameren Illinois last week unveiled a plan to increase the production of lower-cost renewable energy through targeted investment in rural and underserved communities in an effort to move Illinois closer to reaching its goal of…

techcrunch

Sustainable microgrids are the future of clean energy

By Alex Behrens 03/05/20

Across the U.S., sustainable microgrids are emerging as a vital tool in the fight against climate change and increasingly common natural disasters. In the wake of hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires, the traditional energy grid in…

The Nation of Change

Helena, Montana commits to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030

By Ashley Curtin 02/27/20

“Today we fulfilled a responsibility to our present community and its future generations,” Mayor Wilmot Collins said. “We made long-term commitment to put the health and well-being of Helena and its citizens at the forefront…

University of michian news

New online tool helps Michigan communities plan for renewable energy

By Alexandra Haddad and Jim Erickson 02/27/20

Currently, more than half of Michigan’s 1,800-plus municipalities have considered renewable energy in their zoning ordinances. As utility-scale renewable energy expands, remaining communities will have a rich resource to help guide their new ordinances.

governor.ny.gov

Governor Cuomo Announces 30-Day Amendment to Accelerate Renewable Energy Projects and Drive Economic Growth as Part of Nation-Leading Climate Agenda

02/21/20

Legislation to Create Office of Renewable Energy Permitting. Office Will Streamline Process for Environmentally Responsible and Cost-Effective Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects Across the State