RMI

As a non-partisan organization that has long worked with both Republican and Democratic administrations, we stand ready to work with the new administration and all newly elected officials to bolster energy security, clean energy technologies, and clean manufacturing jobs. Globally, RMI research shows rapid advances in the deployment of wind, solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles. In the US, historic investments are spurring a cleantech manufacturing boom nationwide that is bringing down costs for families and businesses, improving energy reliability, and creating employment and growth in both red and blue parts of the country. That’s why outside of Washington, states, cities, governments, citizens, nonprofits, and companies across the board are committed to working together for an equitable clean energy future that brings prosperity to all. RMI is committed, as it always has been, to partnering with a broad range of collaborators to advance the energy transition. That imperative is true both here in the U.S. and worldwide. https://lnkd.in/g-bW7p32

US clean energy projects surged in 2024. Local governments, businesses, and other organizations used federal support to transition to clean energy and bring related benefits to their communities, including lower electricity bills, employment opportunities, and reduced pollution. In Montana, Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization, in partnership with Riverside LLLP, installed solar panels on affordable housing and took advantage of federal incentives with support from RMI’s Clean Energy Academy, reducing residents’ electricity costs. The City of San Antonio, Texas developed one of the largest municipal on-site solar projects in the country, thanks to RMI’s technical assistance. The project will offset 13% of City operations’ electricity consumption and save $7-11 million over its lifetime. The Port of Los Angeles, California – the country’s busiest trade gateway – is planning to upgrade to zero-emissions equipment, infrastructure, and vehicles, as well as support workforce development and community engagement, thanks to the EPA’s Clean Ports Program. Learn more about how RMI helped organizations across the country get the most out of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2024: https://bit.ly/49N2mee

It’s a new year, and we’re newly committed to growing access to safer, healthier, and cleaner energy in communities around the world. We look forward to continuing our work in 2025 and beyond. Thank you for your support!

⏰ Ends at Midnight: Your Gift to RMI Doubled! The stakes for the clean energy transition have never been higher. With technology costs dropping and corporate commitments growing, we have the momentum to drive lasting change. At RMI, we’ve been pioneering this transition for over 40 years, providing data-driven insights and building resilient solutions. TODAY is the final day of our year-end match! Every $1 you donate = $2, thanks to generous donors. Your support ensures that we remain nimble and responsive to the urgent needs of the clean energy movement. Double your contribution before midnight tonight and power the future of clean energy! 👉 https://bit.ly/4gspfGg #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #YearEndGiving

As we continue working toward a clean energy future, it’s important to recognize areas where we’ve seen progress. From falling battery prices to methane-detecting satellites, this past year saw historic advances in renewables, storage, pollution reduction, and more -- around the world. To celebrate the new year, we’re counting down with ten of the top climate developments of 2024: https://bit.ly/4gyXsUc

iPods 📈 Walkmans 📉 Cars 📈 Horses 📉 Steel 📈 Cast iron 📉 As new clean technologies achieve S-curve growth, the incumbent technologies retreat along an inverse path, creating an X pattern that is a hallmark of technology evolution. Just as cars pushed out horses as the dominant mode of transportation, innovative technologies are transforming the energy system: Solar and wind are taking over the electricity supply as they continue to get cheaper, pushing out fossil-fueled electricity. Electricity is the new dominant energy carrier, transcending the inefficiencies and pollution from burning fossil fuel molecules. Efficient renewable electrification is removing wasteful combustion from the energy system. Learn more: https://bit.ly/49LrQbV

Among utilities, integrated resource planning (IRP) is used to ensure that there will be enough electricity supply to meet tomorrow’s demand. IRPs are becoming more complex as the U.S. electricity grid evolves with the addition of renewable energy, the retirement of fossil fuel plants, the growth of distributed energy resources, and more extreme weather. A fundamental part of IRPs is grid modeling. However, traditional grid modeling assumptions for a centralized fossil fuel-based grid miss some critical factors. To better evaluate the roles of renewables, energy storage, and demand flexibility, grid planners need to: ⏰ Use more detailed temporal data – “Time slices” and other aggregate data miss important production and demand dynamics over the course of the day and undervalue the benefits of energy storage. 🌩️ Expand weather data to integrate information from multiple years – Relying on a single or average year of data can miss extreme weather events. 🔋 Consider the resources of neighboring systems – Factoring in the availability of nearby energy resources helps avoid overbuilding and can help plan for efficient transmission lines that can serve more than one system, improving affordability and reliability. ☀️ Model multiple renewable energy profiles – In diverse or large geographies, using more detailed geospatial data captures the benefits of renewable resources across multiple locations. Updating U.S. electricity grid modeling assumptions can help ensure that the future of the grid is affordable, reliable, and keeps the most vulnerable electricity customers top of mind. https://bit.ly/401w5wJ

🎉 Just 5️⃣ days left to make TWICE the difference! Join us in building sustainable energy solutions for a clean, prosperous, and zero-carbon future. Through midnight on December 31, every $1 you donate = $2 with a year-end match by generous donors! 🌟 Double your contribution and help power the future today. Make your gift count 👉 https://bit.ly/4ft7ntG #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #YearEndGiving

Food waste is the single most landfilled material and causes nearly 60% of landfill methane emissions, the EPA reports. Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is generated when organic materials — such as food waste, yard waste, and paper — decompose in landfills without oxygen. As a result, landfills are the third largest source of methane in the United States with annual emissions equivalent to driving 66 million cars or operating 79 coal-fired power plants for an entire year. Stakeholders at every level can help cut methane emissions by preventing organic materials from ending up in landfills. Such "upstream strategies" include minimizing waste, donating excess food, and recycling residual organics into animal feed, compost, or biogas. "Downstream strategies" focus on improving landfill design, operations, and monitoring practices to increase methane capture and reduce methane leaks. Combining upstream and downstream efforts could slash waste methane emissions by 15% by 2030, according to the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland. Beyond the climate benefits, cutting methane emissions from waste can help address food insecurity, reduce health risks, improve the quality of life for nearby communities, create jobs, and produce valuable products, such as compost. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Zb9tIv

With over 2,000 stalls, the Wuse Market is the largest market in Abuja, Nigeria. Until recently, shop owners have relied on gasoline and diesel backup generators to power the market. These generators are expensive to run, extremely noisy, and fill the air with harmful emissions for both people and the planet. To cut costs and emissions and increase power supply and longevity, GVE Projects Ltd, in partnership with Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc and the Wuse Market Association, have commissioned a 1 MW solar minigrid with battery storage to remove the need for these diesel generators. This minigrid project will provide reliable and silent power to the shop owners and boost the local economy by allowing the market to stay open later. The Wuse Market can act as a catalyst for similar projects across Nigeria, increasing access to safe and consistent energy for those who need it the most. 🎥 Here’s what those involved had to say.