Even the most attentive supply chain expert may��struggle to keep up with the many tariff announcements and complex sourcing dynamics affecting the American clean power industry over the past year.��They continue to��obstruct��the power industry’s��ability to meet growing energy demand and affordably serve customers. Yet a bright spot��remains: the onshoring of the clean energy supply chain, a trend building since 2022.��

Last year’s��inaugural��State of Clean Energy Manufacturing in America��report��found that��federal energy incentives drove an immediate response to build in America.��This year’s��report��finds��that��this��momentum has continued, particularly in the downstream solar and storage supply chain, with 70 new manufacturing facilities coming online��in the��past year alone.��

American Jobs Energizing Communities��

The U.S. now has over 825 facilities supporting the clean energy supply chain, directly employing 50,000+ Americans. But that’s just the start of the economic picture.

These facilities don’t operate in a vacuum, they pull in a vast network of suppliers providing everything from the steel and concrete in the ground to the bolts, screws, wires, and glass that go into each component. That demand drives additional work for trucking and shipping companies, accounting and law firms, and construction companies among others in the broader supply chain ecosystem.

And when workers at a wind tower facility in Colorado, a solar tracking line in Pennsylvania, or a lithium mine in Nevada bring home a paycheck, that money doesn’t stay in their pockets.����It flows into their communities, supporting the grocery store cashier, the restaurant server, the gym owner, and the car dealer.

Add it all up, and the clean energy manufacturing sector supports over 215,000 jobs, $31B in GDP, and $61B in spending injected into the U.S. economy.��

Building American Energy Dominance��

2025��marked a new milestone: the U.S. now has the production capability to manufacture and assemble all��types of��downstream components domestically across technologies. This includes��modules for both solar and storage��(effectively the wiring and assembly of energy cells),��wind nacelles,��and��wind turbine��towers.����

This full downstream capability��is essential��for upstream supply chain development. It��creates the economic conditions to incentivize upstream production��so that��U.S. manufacturers can��start to produce��more:��crystalline silicon cells, ingots, wafers, and polysilicon for solar��and more��cells, anode and cathode active materials, graphite, and lithium for battery storage.����

91AVԭ��’s data shows that most of the critical battery storage supply chain could be domestically supplied by��the��end of��the��decade, based on facilities currently under construction and announced investments.��America is on track to exceed 950+ facilities across technologies by 2030, bringing new projects and new opportunities to communities while��establishing��a stable, long-term workforce.

Trade Policies to��Protect American Industry��

But that trajectory depends on��sensible trade policies that��support and do not undermine��supply chains. Clean energy manufacturing��is booming��thanks to��two reinforcing drivers��–��first,��broad deployment of solar, wind, and storage across the country, and��second,��federal incentives that reward onshoring. Undermining clean power through��inefficient��federal action, including unclear tariff and trade policies,��curbs��demand��and thus stands in the way of��one of the clearest success stories in the American manufacturing renaissance.��

Broad tariff action across an entire supply chain can carry unintended consequences. Onshoring works by starting downstream and building upstream. Tariffing the upstream components while the downstream facilities that rely on them are still maturing undermines the very factories American has invested in – and benefitted from.��

The result is a lose-lose: either we can’t build sufficient generation capacity to meet rising electricity demand and forfeit the economic gains of an electrifying economy, or we can meet load – but at unnecessarily higher costs to customers.��

Onshoring the clean energy supply chain is central to U.S. competitiveness and energy security.��The data is clear: it can be done, but it requires smart, consistent support and investment that protects both American industry and electricity customers.��

91AVԭ��’s second annual State of Clean Energy Manufacturing Report provides deep insights on how domestic clean energy manufacturing is powering America’s economic prosperity, generating revenue, supporting jobs, and strengthening energy independence.

Download the Report Now

Learn more at (June 1-4, Houston, TX): Stop by the 91AVԭ�� Booth #2519 to meet the experts behind the data, ask questions, and explore additional intelligence to help you track the market, identify opportunities, and make decisions with confidence.��

I had to figure it out on my own. And I did. And I promised that I would always share what I learned because I wasted a lot of unnecessary time. I came to understand how to access opportunity. Who is in the room. Who gets heard. Who is invited into the conversations that move careers forward.

Those moments matter. More than we often acknowledge. I want everyone to learn those lessons and not have to wait to be noticed, sponsored or mentored. CLEANPOWER in Color was created with that in mind.

This work is personal for me. I came to 91AVԭ�� because I wanted to be intentional about providing knowledge and creating space for our community, not just to participate in this industry, but to help lead it. Last year, we launched this event during a challenging moment. What stayed with me was not just the programming, but what happened in between: People connected in meaningful ways. They shared experiences openly. They left with a stronger sense of where they fit and where they could go next.

That is the kind of space we are continuing to build. A space where professionals of color are not on the margins of the conversation, but at the center of it. A space where growth happens not just through content, but through connection, reflection, and shared experience. Because leadership is not built in isolation. It is shaped over time, through the rooms we are in and the people we learn from along the way.

I hope you will join us in Houston this June.

Learn more and register today

But��even more��is��on the way.��91AVԭ��’s��Power��Capacity��Outlook expects��over 80% of��new��power��installations��through 2030 to be clean energy��– new electrons��that��meet��rising��demand��and��increase��reliability��are��overwhelmingly clean electrons.����

The strongest��trends? Clean power delivering��for Americans:����

1. Strong annual deployments continue.��At the end of 2025, the U.S.��reached��a record high of 188 GW of clean power in��the pipeline.��Consultant forecasts anticipate between 46-62 GW��more on the way��by the end of��this year,��keeping��2026 on par with��record-breaking 2024 and 2025.��The strength of deployments is heavily��determined��by a market and policy environment from earlier in the decade, as development decisions are��finalized��years��ahead of��projects��coming online.
   
   

2. Natural gas prices spike, clean energy users save.��Wholesale electricity rates rose��41% on average��in 2025, primarily��due to��higher natural gas prices and demand spikes during extreme weather events. The Northeast, a region highly dependent on natural gas,��had an��average year-over-year wholesale electricity price increase of 60%, while��regions with less natural gas dependency and higher clean energy penetration saw an average��increase��of only 13%.��With��natural gas prices��still on the rise and��an��increasing likelihood��of��extreme��weather��events,��the role of clean��energy��in��derisking wholesale prices��has never been more��critical.��

3. Battery storage capacity is on track to break 50 GW.��Battery energy storage systems (BESS) closed out 2025 with 45 GW/126 GWh of capacity in operation. Across the nation, battery storage deployments have grown exponentially, rising an average of 86% each year since 2020. At that pace, BESS is expected to surpass the 50 GW milestone by the end of this year.����
4. Utility-scale solar will overtake land-based wind in total operational capacity. Land-based wind has historically dominated U.S. clean power capacity. But the winds are shifting – operational land-based wind ended 2025 at nearly 161 GW while utility-scale solar reached 157 GW. Annual installations for utility-scale solar have been at least three times greater than the annual installations for land-based wind over the past three years. If this trend continues, utility-scale solar will take over as the leader in operational clean power capacity by the end of 2026.�� ��
5. Offshore wind is set to overcome barriers and support the grid. Despite regulatory and developmental hurdles, five commercial-scale offshore wind projects representing 6 GW are nearing completion. Three of the projects have already begun delivering power to the grid, two of which hit first power within the first quarter of 2026. With current operational offshore wind capacity at just 174 MW, this new capacity will provide a major boost to the northeastern grid.�� ��
6. Ten states are doubling operational capacity.��Ten U.S.��states have enough clean power in the pipeline to more than double their current operational capacity in the coming years: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia.��Three of those��ten (Arizona, New York, and Virginia)��currently��have more than 5 GW in the pipeline.
   
   

7. Total share of natural gas generation fell.��Despite adding��4 GW��of��net��operational capacity��in 2025 (culminating in��a total��of��578 GW), natural gas’ share of total electricity generation in the U.S. fell from 43% to 40%.����This is��thanks in part to��an��influx of��clean energy��to the grid displacing��natural��gas generation during high demand��hours��–��power from solar and batteries��during the day and early��evening��reduced��the��need for natural gas��generation.��

Dive��deeper��into��these insights��in 91AVԭ��’s��Annual Clean Power Market Report.����

Want to learn more about��the latest clean power��trends?��Join��91AVԭ����in��Houston on June 1-4 for��CLEANPOWER, the industry’s premier event for��cutting-edge��discussions about bringing new electrons onto the grid.��Be a part of charting America’s energy future with top companies, experts, policymakers, and leaders across all types of energy.����

As the clean energy industry accelerates project deployment nationwide, the ability to transfer federal tax credits has become one of the most consequential financial tools for shaping project finance. With billions of dollars in transferable credits circulating across technologies — from solar and wind to manufacturing, storage, and nuclear — standardizing these credit transfer transactions can help attract new investors. ��91AVԭ�� convened leading developers, legal experts, and market innovators to explore the state of play and introduce a new standardized Investment Tax Credit (ITC) transfer agreement form.��

Key Takeaways��

• The market for buying and selling clean-energy tax credits is growing fast: Tax credit transfers have scaled dramatically — from under $10B in 2023 to an estimated $40B this year — and are diversifying beyond wind and solar.��
• 91AVԭ�� and industry partners have introduced the new Tax Credit Transfer Agreement (TCTA) to make deals more accessible to a broader range of market participants: While every deal has a handful of unique attributes, a great many transfer deals can benefit from a standard template that incorporates provisions common to most deals. ��The new TCTA form presents tax credit buyers and sellers with a common starting place to transact transfer deals. 91AVԭ��’s goal in creating the form with its industry partners is to make the form broadly available and widely used similar to the ubiquitous ISDA framework for derivative transactions. ��
• This is just the first step — more standardized tools are coming: Experts expect similar templates for other credits like 45Y production tax credits and 45X manufacturing incentives further expanding the pool of potential tax equity investors. As these tools roll out, buying and selling credits should become easier, helping clean energy scale more quickly.��

Download TCTA Form

��A Growing Tool for a Growing Market��

“The market is only two years old,” noted Johnson — yet it has matured at remarkable speed. In 2023, an estimated $7–9 billion in credits changed hands. In 2025, that number will exceed$40 billion, with especially strong growth in battery storage, clean fuels, manufacturing, and nuclear energy. Large developers like Clearway report that traditional tax equity remains strong, but transferability has become a crucial supplement — particularly after IRS guidance and safe harbor rules helped clarify how deals should work. ��

According to Orrick’s Alejandra Garcia Earley, demand now spans nearly every available tax credit category — from 45X manufacturing incentives to EV charging credits — demonstrating just how central transferability has become in financing new infrastructure.��

Corporate Buyers Are Fueling Liquidity — and Raising the Bar��

An ever-increasing number of new corporate buyers are entering the market, oftentimes with little prior experience in clean energy finance. Unlike banks or traditional tax-equity investors, these companies often do not have in-house tax teams or transaction lawyers with the necessary experience in these specific transactions. As Norton Rose’s Hilary Lefko explained, “These buyers tend to lean heavily on counsel, third-party advisors, and insurance rather than deep project-level diligence.” ��

This evolution is healthy — it means the market is expanding — but it also reinforces why consistent documentation and predictable processes are needed. As Johnson put it, “First-time buyers want to transact on something tested, known, and accepted across the market.” Without those guiderails, buyer uncertainty risks limiting the pool of new market entrants at a time when they are desperately needed. ����

A Standard Transfer Agreement — Designed for Speed and Confidence��

As the tax credit transfer market has grown, nearly every deal has required bespoke contract drafting. ��This has served as a market constraint. ��The new TCTA form aims to eliminate that constraint by reducing up-front transaction costs, shrinking timelines and encouraging consistent deal terms. �� ��

“People want to move fast,” Clearway’s Ryder said, emphasizing that developers and buyers alike benefit from reducing the amount of time spent repeatedly redlining the same provisions. The template gives parties a commercially balanced, middle-of-the-road starting point that reflects market norms to serve as a fair baseline informed by hundreds of completed transactions.����

The document is intentionally flexible: it works for single-asset ITC transactions today, but can be adapted for portfolios, production credits, or other emerging incentives.��

Driving Scale Through Standardization��

Panelists repeatedly highlighted that standardization is not just administrative — it is foundational for market growth. When parties start from a shared baseline, legal negotiation shrinks, deal timelines shorten, and more market participants can enter with confidence. That makes investment cycles more predictable and helps reduce transaction costs — particularly for smaller sellers or first-time buyers where those costs might otherwise consume a disproportionate share of deal value. ��

Johnson estimated that the total cost burden on credit buyers and sellers can reach 3–7% of deal size, meaning efficiency improvements directly translate into more dollars available for additional deal flow to facilitate clean energy deployment. Standardization also allows technology platforms to automate parts of the process, bringing further speed and scale to the market.��

What Comes Next: PTCs, Manufacturing Credits, and Technology-Neutral Standards��

The consensus among these experts on next steps was clear: more standard templates are coming. Ryder pointed to the rising level of public and political support for domestic manufacturing credits like 45X, making that an ideal area for document standardization.��

Panelists also argued that 45Y production tax credit transfer deals should be standardized soon, since only minor revisions are needed once revenue recapture and timeline provisions are adjusted. Garcia Earley explained that once a PTC version is created, it will be relatively easy to adapt across multiple emerging credit categories including 45X, 45Y, and similar incentive frameworks.��

Turning Industry Collaboration into Market Acceleration����

In closing, 91AVԭ��’s Sandberg underscored why this work matters: the ability to monetize credits efficiently is now central to financing clean energy projects and a key component to continue deploying enough clean energy to help meet skyrocketing demand for energy. The new agreement reflects months of collaboration among sponsors, financiers, lawyers, and market intermediaries — each contributing to a shared document that lowers barriers to entry to the tax credit transfer market and encourages wider market participation. ��

As Ryder put it, “We invested the time because we care about where the industry is going. These transactions need to happen efficiently for clean energy deployment to continue.” The form is now being released publicly through 91AVԭ�� so that developers, buyers, platforms, and institutions can adopt it widely — similar to other industry templates like ISDA agreements in global derivatives markets.��

Tax credit transferability has become a core financing mechanism supporting America’s clean energy buildout. The TCTA form is designed to help buyers and sellers move with more speed and certainty as billions of dollars of capital flows through the system. And as Sandberg reminded the industry, standardization is not the end of innovation — it is the key to unlock it, paving the way for broader participation, lower barriers to entry, and the next wave of market expansion.��

Watch the full discussion here.��

Download TCTA Form

In this dynamic environment, the need for high-accuracy energy modeling, commercial flexibility, and cost-effective development��has never been more critical. That’s exactly where 91AVԭ�� PEAK 2025��comes in.

A New Name for a New Era

While the name has changed, the core of the conference remains the same: a premier gathering for commercially driven decision-makers��and technically focused professionals��leading the charge in wind, solar, storage, and hybrid energy systems. 91AVԭ�� PEAK continues to be the go-to forum for cutting-edge insights in resource assessment, model validation, commercial analytics, and beyond.

What to Expect at 91AVԭ�� PEAK 2025

This year’s agenda is packed with sessions designed to address the most pressing challenges and innovations in the industry:

1. Combined Technologies
   • Machine Learning & Digitalization in Resource Assessment
   • GIS & Spatial Modeling Advancements
   • Hybrid Project Optimization
   • Time Series & Revenue Modeling
   • Climate & Weather Risk Analysis
   • Transmission Planning & Integration
2. Solar & Energy Storage
   • Solar Capacity Testing
   • Performance Assurance
   • Innovations in Solar Modeling & Technology
   • Solar Availability & Solar Tech Reviews
   • PV System Design of the Future
   • Energy Storage Performance & Revenue Forecasting
   • Storage Origination Strategies
3. Wind Energy
   • Repowering Strategies
   • Site Suitability & Extended Asset Life
   • Remote Sensing (Lidar, TI Validation)
   • Power Performance Testing
   • Operational Assessments
   • Industry Updates
   • Blockage & Wake Effects

Whether you’re navigating technical complexities or commercial uncertainties, 91AVԭ�� PEAK 2025��is your opportunity to build the knowledge and network, while growing your resilience needed to thrive in today’s energy landscape.

—and take your capabilities to the next PEAK.

Today, when the clean energy industry concurrently faces such headwinds and continues to display such promise, and in the context of a dynamic policy landscape, unprecedented demand growth, and increasing political debate – “ups and downs” seems like a dramatic understatement.

And yet, at this point in my career, I know this is just another twist in the journey to a cleaner, more reliable, affordable energy future. Markets adapt. Some periods bring massive advancements, and some, retraction. On a personal level, what gets me through this period of disruption is community. As a woman of color who joined this industry in the late 1990s, I deeply appreciate the growth of this community, not just for reasons of camaraderie and familiarity, but also for the advancement of our industry through diversity of thought.

There were very few women I could connect with in my earliest career, and so I relied on a small community of fierce contemporaries to advise, console and laugh at the relentless intensity of this industry. Being a woman of color, I really looked for a community of ANYONE in those days. Just someone with whom to laugh, brainstorm, and innovate. As the market grew, and as more diverse voices joined the industry, I have treasured my contemporaries; admired from afar and sometimes close-up (if I’m lucky enough) forerunners like Sue Tierney, Lisa Jackson, Rose McKinney James, Suedeen Kelly, and Nora Mead Browne; and thoroughly delighted in the “newer” women entrants to the clean energy industry – whether transplants from the oil and gas industry, straight out of school, or new entrants from entirely different industries.

That’s why I’m excited to join the EmpowHER event this summer. To acknowledge not just the growth of our industry, but the growth of our community. Whenever I’m stuck on a particular issue, or if I’m feeling like the inherent volatility of our market is too much to bear, I am supported by those who can identify with my worries and understand the balance I try to make in my personal and professional life.

I hope to see you at EmpowHER in August, to expand your community, learn and teach others, and just laugh about the changeability and progress of our industry. It’s important to keep a long-view perspective, to stay motivated in moving our industry toward a cleaner, more reliable, affordable grid. Even as we’re learning to build our own professional skills, it’s important to never, ever forget the power of connection and community.

Two sessions I know I won’t miss on Thursday cover Deal Flow and Project Financing – one at 9:15am focused on the basics of finance, and one at 1:00pm with a deeper dive on project specifics. As long as I’ve been in this business, there have always been new and innovative ways to finance clean energy, and I enjoy keeping myself up to date on the latest trends. I hope to see you in the audience there. It’s going to be a blast.

Key Takeaways

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers are driving unprecedented energy demand growth, shifting industry conversations from megawatts to gigawatts.
• Permitting reform and policy consistency are critical to maintaining American leadership in both AI and energy security.
• An all-of-the-above domestic energy approach—including wind, solar, storage, nuclear, and natural gas—is essential for reliability and national security.

The race for global AI leadership isn’t just about algorithms and computing power—it’s increasingly about who can provide the most reliable, secure, and abundant energy to power the data centers that support the technology.

American AI development is rapidly driving the need for more of data centers due to the vast computational power required for training and running complex models. These data centers require electricity to power their infrastructure and the cooling systems which manage the heat generated by their operations.

91AVԭ��’s recent PowerTalk explored this critical intersection between America’s energy strategy and our technological future. The conversation—moderated by 91AVԭ�� CEO Jason Grumet and featuring panelists Helen Toner of Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Harry Krejsa of Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Strategy and Technology, David Carroll of ENGIE North America (and 91AVԭ��’s Board Chair-Elect), and Heather McGeory of CoreWeave—offered perspectives from both energy producers and technology companies at the forefront of AI development.

AI is Driving Unprecedented Energy Demand

Data centers and AI infrastructure are creating energy demand at scales previously unimagined. “The demand in terms of volume and energy that we could use—we used to have conversations about megawatts and now we have conversations about gigawatts,” explained Heather McGeory of CoreWeave, referring to conversations around powering individual data centers. This is already happening today, as energy demand is forecasted to increase by as much as 50% by 2040, according to a study from S&P Global Commodity Insights.

This exponential growth represents both a challenge and opportunity for American energy development. As David Carroll of ENGIE noted, “It’s no longer a conversation about ‘can you just bring a solar project.’ It’s how can we pair technologies associated with wind, solar, battery, and even now some peakers or natural gas generation so that we can have a data center that has firm reliable power.”

Energy Security is National Security

The location and security of our energy infrastructure directly impacts America’s technological leadership position.

“I certainly think that energy permitting—making sure that it’s actually possible to build new energy sites—is genuinely a huge deal,” emphasized Helen Toner. “Having a really strong domestic base that you’re able to build on is very valuable… From a sort of high-level strategic perspective, these are really valuable assets and it makes sense to want to have them at home,” she continued, highlighting the strategic importance of domestic energy production.

Harry Krejsa further explained that the newest energy technologies offer the best security advantages: “The most defensible and resilient technologies are the most shovel ready, fastest onto grid and often are the lowest carbon emitting—but their national security imperative and value often have nothing to do with their carbon emission.”

Policy Certainty is Critical for Meeting Energy Demand

Meeting these massive energy demands will require embracing all available domestic energy resources. “We always want to be finding the most modern and efficient energy solutions possible, and I really think that includes renewables and nuclear. I don’t think we can get through any of this without nuclear,” stated McGeory.

However, policy uncertainty is creating investment challenges. Carroll emphasized: “We’ve been investing about $3 billion a year in the U.S. market and that’s slowed down because of the policy uncertainty, but also tariffs.”

As America navigates the dual challenges of energy security and technological leadership, the clean power industry stands ready to deliver the reliable, domestic energy resources needed to power our AI future. As Jason Grumet concluded, “We are in a race for digital dominance… The efforts to make sure that we are scaling U.S.-based technology as the backbone of the data centers and the reliable, clean, secure electrons that our members are providing is really the point of our work.” This will require smart policy, streamlined permitting, and a commitment to building American energy systems that support both our economic and national security objectives.

Watch the full PowerTalk here.

When I started my career in energy in 2002, I often found myself to be the only woman in the room.�� As a young lawyer, I didn’t yet know how to use my voice, and I had constant imposter syndrome.�� My solution was to silently work harder and longer to prove my worth – a wholly unsustainable practice considering the lack of sleep if nothing else.�� In time, like many women first starting out, I eventually found my way and learned to use my voice, not only for myself, but also to help others along.�� So the imposter became the expert, and I was all set, right? Wrong!

10 years later, I decided to take the leap from practicing law to running a business and found myself back at square one, starting this cycle all over again. In fact, with every pivot, the cycle hits me again to some degree.�� Though I still struggle from time to time, I have largely been able to keep my apprehension and confidence challenges at bay by learning to lean on and engage my mentors, my coach, and most of all, my wonderful network of women in the industry.�� I’ve learned to ask for help when I am in doubt or need an outside perspective. ��I’ve been lucky to have a variety of advocates, both male and female, who have helped me be braver and use my voice – even getting me to a place where I now do some public speaking, which was once a source of sheer terror for me!

As I’ve now evolved into a leadership position, my network of female colleagues are usually the ones I turn to for advice, a confidence boost, or a supportive ear.�� Leadership is both a blessing and a responsibility, and having other women to lean on is essential.�� They understand what you’re facing in the office as well as the myriads of other things you’re juggling in your nonwork life.�� As every passing year brings more and more of everything, I’ve found it harder and yet ever more essential to maintain and build that network.

Events like EmpowHER give us the space to focus on deepening relationships like those that are the foundation of my success (and sanity!), and that is why I am so happy to serve as a co-chair this year with Kelly Speakes-Backman, one of those amazing women in my circle.�� I am excited to dig into issues that those of us in more senior roles are currently wrestling with daily as we struggle to be the best leaders we can be for our teams in a time of unprecedented uncertainty.�� I am also looking forward to meeting more of my peers and finding out how they are navigating many of the same challenges we are all experiencing right now.

I hope that you will join me at EmpowHER to build and grow your own essential network in new and important ways.�� Whether you are a current decision-maker or on track to become an executive of the future, the EmpowHER space is for you. We hope you’ll leave the conference empowered with new and deeper relationships and tools to help you be more resilient and better equipped as we forge ahead to face current obstacles.�� I would love to be one of the new members of your network and look forward to meeting you at the conference in August!

• American clean energy production creates family-supporting jobs and substantial local tax revenue that powers schools, roads, and emergency services
• Transparent community partnerships and addressing local questions directly build successful domestic energy projects
• 91AVԭ��’s Local Affairs Committee unites diverse expertise to ensure domestic energy development benefits rural communities while strengthening America’s energy leadership

When clean energy projects take root in rural communities across the country, they bring more than just new infrastructure—they deliver prosperity. These American energy projects generate substantial tax revenue that funds local schools, improves rural infrastructure, and buoys essential community services. Supporting these successful partnerships between communities and energy developers is 91AVԭ��’s Local Affairs Committee, working to ensure clean energy’s growth strengthens local communities nationwide while increasing American-made energy production.

In 91AVԭ��’s recent Member Group Spotlight: 91AVԭ��’s Local Affairs Committee PowerCast, Hilary Clark (91AVԭ��’s Senior Director of Social Licensing) hosted an insightful discussion with committee leadership including Stephen Goodin (Chair, NextEra Energy Resources), Lara Hamsher (Vice Chair, AES), Matt Wagner (Past Chair, DTE Energy), and Bevan Augustine (Past Vice Chair, RWE) about the community work they do and the insights they learn from peers in the Local Affairs Committee. These energy veterans shared valuable perspectives on building successful community relationships.

91AVԭ�� members can join the Local Affairs Committee .

Building Trust: Community Engagement and Transparent Communication

“Effective local engagement isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about putting the time in with the community stakeholders,” noted Stephen Goodin from NextEra Energy Resources. “When we take time to understand local priorities and demonstrate how our projects support those goals, we’re more likely to achieve permitting success.” The committee emphasizes that early, transparent communication helps communities see how clean energy production can complement local values and priorities.

This foundation of trust creates an environment where communities can fully appreciate the economic advantages that clean energy development brings to rural America.

Delivering Tangible Community Benefits: Local Investment

Clean energy projects are revitalizing rural economies across America. “The tax revenue from these projects often represents the largest investment some communities have seen in decades,” explained Matt Wagner of DTE Energy. “We’ve seen firsthand how this revenue strengthens schools, improves roads, and enhances emergency services.”

According to Lara Hamsher from AES, “When we can demonstrate how harvesting domestic energy resources translates to direct community benefits, we transform the conversation from abstract policy discussions to real kitchen table issues that matter to families.”

Addressing Concerns Respectfully: Commitment to Solutions

The committee recognizes that communities rightfully ask how projects impact their daily lives—from visual considerations to questions about reliability. “Listening is our most powerful tool,” shared Bevan Augustine of RWE. “When concerns arise, we address them with facts, research, and a genuine commitment to finding solutions. This respectful approach builds the trust necessary for successful projects.”

Strengthening America’s Energy Backbone

As America’s demand for electricity grows, the Local Affairs Committee’s work becomes increasingly important to ensuring that the expansion of domestic clean energy options strengthens communities while bolstering American energy security. Clean energy projects represent a unique opportunity to meet our nation’s power needs while delivering tangible local benefits. Through thoughtful engagement, transparent communication, and genuine partnership, the clean energy industry can continue to foster rural economic development while advancing America’s renewable energy goals.

By supporting the responsible development of clean energy resources in communities nationwide, 91AVԭ��’s Local Affairs Committee is helping to build a more sustainable and economically vibrant future for rural America.

Watch the full Member Group Spotlight: 91AVԭ��’s Local Affairs Committee PowerCast.