Resources

2021

CEBA Connect: Assessing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Impacts of New Renewable Energy Projects

Webinar • CEBI

This presentation highlights current tools and approaches to assess the greenhouse gas impact of clean energy projects, and the application of those tools and approaches.

2021

CEBA Connect: Measuring Avoided Emissions and Maximizing Impact

Webinar • CEBI

This recorded workshop and presentation highlight why avoided emissions and accelerating grid decarbonization should be a priority when informing an energy customer’s procurement strategies. Learn from current energy customers’ experiences, existing challenges in this space, and potential solutions.

More than a Megawatt: Embedding Social & Environmental Impact in the Renewable Energy Procurement Process

Whitepaper • Salesforce

Salesforce illustrates how to maximize the positive impacts of clean energy purchases and minimize the negative impacts, and provides a starting framework for other clean energy customers. Salesforce seeks to share its experience and guidance with the clean energy community to promote collective action.

Clean Power by the Hour

Whitepaper • RMI

RMI white paper of the costs and climate benefits associated with procurement strategies that match customers’ electricity demand with carbon-free energy supply on an hourly basis across seven global electricity markets. Recommendations are put forth for clean energy customers, policymakers, and project developers that can support both near- and long-term emissions reduction goals.

24/7 Carbon-free energy: Methodologies and Metrics

Whitepaper • Google

Google’s white paper provides an overview of the company’s current carbon free energy (CFE) framework and methodology, and progress toward its 24/7 CFE goal to help peers maximize impact on grid decarbonization. The key principles behind Google’s program, and key metrics used to measure CFE and track progress (CFE score, avoided emissions, and transaction scores) are included.

EnergyTag and granular energy certificates: Accelerating the transition to 24/7 clean power

Whitepaper • EnergyTag

EnergyTag describes existing Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) and accounting frameworks, the potential benefits of moving towards increased temporal granularity, the structure and activities of the EnergyTag organization, the starting principles behind the Initiative, and the first EnergyTag demonstrator projects.

A Path to Supporting Data-Driven Renewable Energy Markets

Whitepaper • M-RETS

M-RETS proposes a path forward that recognizes the market and data challenges involved in integrating hourly data into the existing REC marketplace. This white paper explains the benefits of 24/7 clean energy through hourly renewable energy certificate (REC) retirement system that ensures that each hour of a user’s operation is matched to actual clean energy produced at the same time.

Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP)

Guide • Center for Resource Solutions

The Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP) develops standardized, stakeholder-reviewed clean energy and GHG emissions accounting guidance addressing outstanding questions in voluntary and regulatory markets.

Clean Energy Buyers Association

Program • CEBI

The Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) is a 501c6 business association with nearly 300 companies representing more than $6 trillion in revenues and 14 million employees. CEBA activates a community of energy customers and partners to deploy market and policy solutions for a carbon-free energy system. CEBA’s aspiration is to achieve a 90% carbon-free U.S. electricity system by 2030 and to cultivate a global community of customers driving clean energy.

2021

CEBA Connect Fall Forum 2021: Guiding Principles for Community, Conservation & Climate

Recording • CEBI

As renewable energy procurement becomes mainstream, large energy purchasers are in a unique position to set the bar when it comes to environmental and equity considerations. By utilizing a framework which maximizes the co-benefits associated with their renewable energy purchases — sending market signals that reward best practices for climate, conservation, and communities — corporate procurement can transform the clean energy economy and drive the market beyond “business-as-usual.” In this panel, industry experts from LevelTen Energy, The Nature Conservancy, PepsiCo, and Xcel Energy will discuss the “3 Cs” of impact procurement and how to make the greatest positive change.

Guide to Wind Energy & Wildlife

Guide • American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI)

AWWI’s Guide to Wind Energy and Wildlife summarizes the statutory and regulatory framework and context of wind energy and wildlife, the state-of-the-science on wind-wildlife interactions, and the strategies that are being implemented to avoid, minimize, and compensate for adverse impacts from onshore wind energy in the U.S. to wildlife and habitats.

2016

Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation

Fact Sheet • United States Geological Survey (USGS)

The USGS provides scientific information and science-based options that government agencies and private industries can use as they strive to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts of energy infrastructure on wildlife and their habitats

2016

Wind Turbine Interactions with Wildlife and their Habitats

Fact Sheet • American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI)

This fact sheet summarizes publicly available information about the adverse impacts of land-based wind power on wildlife in North America and the status of our knowledge regarding how to avoid or minimize these impacts.

2020

Learning From Real-World Experience to Understand Renewable Energy Impacts to Wildlife

Report • California Energy Commission

This California Energy Commission report analyzes real-world data to understand adverse effects to wildlife of clean energy production in California. A systematic literature review, development of best-practices approach, and modeling inform a framework and specific tools for understanding environmental impacts of clean energy generation.

2019

Impacts to Wildlife of Wind Energy Siting and Operation in the United States

Report • Ecological Society of America

The Ecological Society of America report summarizes the positive impacts of replacing fossil fuels with wind energy, while describing learnings and what remains uncertain about negative ecological impacts of the construction and operation of land-based and offshore wind energy on wildlife and wildlife habitat in the U.S. It also proposes research on ways to minimize these impacts.

Beyond Carbon-Free: A Framework for Purpose-Led Renewable Energy Procurement and Development

Whitepaper • LevelTen Energy, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon

This white paper a) seeks to amplify the growing recognition of a need to embed additional perspectives beyond financial and risk criteria into renewable energy procurement, and b) advances the industry’s ability to build and procure with impact in mind, at the speed and scale the climate crisis demands. By embracing a “3C” approach (Communities, Conservation and Climate), laid out in the white paper, energy buyers and developers can play a pivotal role in maximizing the positive benefits this unprecedented build-out of wind, solar, and associated infrastructure can bring while achieving their own public sustainability commitments.

EnergyTag Hourly Accounting Initiative

Program • EnergyTag

The EnergyTag Initiative is an independent, non-profit, industry-led initiative to define and build a framework for hourly or sub-hourly electricity certificates that enables energy users to verify the source of their electricity and carbon emissions in real-time.

Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Fellowship

Program • Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI)

A fellowship program for emerging leaders with diverse backgrounds and equips them with technical knowledge, leadership development training, and a passionate community dedicated to building an equitable, decarbonized, and resilient energy ecosystem. Fellows are challenged to think critically about current energy policy and market structures, examine existing and historical inequities, identify existing barriers to clean energy deployment and innovation, and develop holistic solutions towards an equitable energy transition.

U.S. EPA eGRID Database

Database • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA database for historical grid-average emission factors for the U.S. used for accounting purposes.

Edison Electric Institute Electric Company Carbon Emissions and Electricity Mix Reporting Database

Database • Edison Electric Institute

Edison Electric Institute (EEI) members populate the data in this database on a voluntary basis. The central platform tracks carbon dioxide emission intensity rates and resource mix information, accounting for renewable energy certificates, for delivered electricity by electric distribution company. The data can be used to calculate Scope 2 emissions to support disclosure of carbon-related sustainability goals.

WattTime API

Database • WattTime

The WattTime API provides the building blocks to integrate marginal carbon emissions data into a variety of applications and provides an automated process for emissions reductions without impacting functionality. Data available include historical, real-time, and forecasted marginal carbon emission factors for the United States for consequential avoided emission analysis.

ElectricityMap

Database • Tomorrow

ElectricityMap provides actionable data quantifying how carbon intensive electricity is on an hourly basis across 50+ countries. The data can be accessed historically, in real time, forecast for the next 24 hours, and marginal carbon emission factors for select geographies around the globe. Free access to real-time average carbon intensity dashboard.

Carbonara

Database • Singularity Energy

Carbonara provides historical, real-time, forecasted average and marginal data for the U.S.

Power Sector Carbon Index

Database • Carnegie Mellon University Scott Institute for Energy Innovation

The Power Sector Carbon Index provides an estimate of the carbon dioxide (CO2) intensity of the U.S. power sector using publicly available data sources. Carbon intensity is measured in pounds of CO2 per Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity.

Public Utility Data Liberation (PUDL) Project

Database • Catalyst Cooperative

The Public Utility Data Liberation (PUDL) project takes information that’s already publicly available, and makes it publicly usable, by cleaning, standardizing, and cross-linking utility data from different sources in a single database. Thus far our primary focus has been on fuel use, generation, and operating costs, and operation history. A useful source of data for building internal models.

Site Renewables Right

Tool • The Nature Conservancy

This mapping tool developed by The Nature Conservancy provides a way for companies and communities to identify the most promising places in the central U.S. to quickly develop renewable energy while avoiding impacts to important wildlife and habitats. This analysis combines more than 100 GIS layers of wildlife habitat and land use data, helping to find areas where renewable energy development is most likely to avoid important natural areas, permitting delays and cost overruns.

2022

CEBA Connect Fall Forum 2021: Guiding Principles for Community, Conservation & Climate

Guidance • Center for Rural Affairs

Falling equipment costs coupled with increased demand for clean energy have led to a rapid rise in solar development over the past decade, a trend expected to continue. When solar projects reach the end of their expected performance period, there are several management options. They include extending the performance period through reuse, refurbishment, or repowering of the facility or fully discontinuing operations and decommissioning the project. This document provides guidance on various options available for solar PV’s end of life management, including on decommissioning plans.

2023

Maximizing Community Co-benefits through Clean Energy Procurement

Webinar • CEBI

Featuring panelists from Google, Enel North America, The Nature Conservancy, and Sustain Our Future, the Maximizing Community Co-Benefits through Clean Energy Procurement webinar will help you understand why co-created social benefits can advance clean energy project development, what mechanisms have been applied by industry stakeholders, and how you can drive impact toward your goals.

2023

Maximizing Community Co-benefits through Clean Energy Procurement

Primer • CEBI

The Maximizing Community Co-Benefits through Clean Energy Procurement primer provides energy customers, energy providers, and service providers with guidance on considerations, mechanisms, and resources to maximize social co-benefits alongside the emissions-reduction benefits of clean energy procurement.

2022

CEBA Connect: 2022 Spring Summit

Panel • CEBI

This video shows a panel discussion of the Beyond the Megawatt initiative held at the CEBA Connect: 2022 Spring Summit.

2022

Mission Critical: Strengthening governance of mineral value chains for the energy transition

Report • Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

This study provides an overview of global value chains of selected transition minerals and highlights the relationship between global energy transition objectives and the need for stronger minerals sector governance, which can mitigate industry risks from lack of transparency and accountability around the transition minerals production, commodity trades and financial flows.

2022

Environmental justice in renewable energy procurement: Lessons learned from Microsoft and Volt Energy Utility

Report • Microsoft

This report outlines the collaborative effort between Volt Energy Utility and Microsoft in the creation of an Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement. Along with providing data to support the importance of leveraging corporate energy procurement to enable social impact, the authors share resources, including contract language, to help other corporates interested in advancing similar work.

2022

Anatomy of an Effective Community Workforce Agreement

Guide • Emerald Cities Collaborative

This guide to Community Workforce Agreements provides a framework to bring innovation to the traditional Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and is an extension of DEI work that builds economic revitalization through communication. This dynamic partnership between communities and labor emphasizes partnership in decision-making.

2022

Respecting the Human Rights of Communities: A Business Guide for Commercial and Wind and Solar Project Development

Guide • Align and Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Companies involved in commercial wind and solar projects are facing increased exposure to various legal, financial, operational, and reputational risks and heightened scrutiny of their human rights performance. This guide provides companies with information and strategies to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for adverse human rights impacts that they cause, contribute to, or are directly linked to through their operations, products, or services by virtue of their business relationships.

2021

NAACP Guidelines for Equitable Community Involvement

Guide • NAACP

This guide provides insights on best practices for community engagement, and how to strive for community ownership on the spectrum of community participation. To engage in projects thoughtfully, engagement must be intentional by avoiding tokenism and extractive activities.

2021

Summary of the Working Wisdom Listening Tour

Report • Groundswell, CEBI, Solutions Project, Hummingbird

Over the course of four online sessions in February 2021, community leaders shared their community-building stories and suggested a language of connection, principles, and frameworks at the Working Wisdom Listening Tour. This series brought together corporate leaders in renewable energy and frontline community leaders to mutually recognize the power of being good neighbors. These recommendations are designed to guide corporate energy buyers in building authentic non-extractive relationships to support equitable and community-led renewable project development with multiple benefits for all parties. The Tour was a first step in Groundswell’s more extensive Communities + Corporates program.

2021

CEBA Virtual Member Summit Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Session – Building Equity & Diversity into Renewable Energy Procurement

Webinar • CEBI

This document provides notes and key takeaways on Beyond The Megawatt focused session hosted during CEBI’s Spring Virtual Member Summit. Check out the attached document for takeaways on topics discussed like avoided emissions, land use, and a just transition.

2021

Corporates and Communities Engagement Primer

Primer • Clean Energy Buyers Institute & Groundswell

The Corporate and Community Engagement Primer educates and guides energy customers interested in engaging with local communities to intentionally create mutual advantages through the procurement of clean energy. The Primer focuses on how to secure leadership buy-in, establish internal and external project teams, and determine key strategic and project-based goals.

2020

Green Jobs Report – Creating a Green Workforce: Community-Based Solutions for a Diverse Green Jobs Sector

Report • Environmental Justice Leadership Forum

This report highlights how a just transition lens can serve to shape conversation and next steps in addressing climate change, and the state of affairs and best practices of four organizations who have active, evolving Green Jobs training programs designed for people of color and individuals from at-risk, underserved communities.

Human Resources Collective Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Playbook

Guide • Renewables Forward

This DEI Playbook by Renewables Forward empowers companies in the clean energy industry to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at their companies. The goal of the playbook is to provide leaders with clear steps to move DEI forward, regardless of previous DEI work.

Best Practices for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) (in the solar industry)

Guide • Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

As the clean energy industry works to become more diverse and inclusive, we want our members and others to be informed by best practices. These resources demonstrate the commitment that is required to truly become more equitable.

Policy Principles on Environmental Justice & Equity

Guide • Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

As an industry that deploys clean, reliable, affordable electricity, SEIA recognizes the critical role for environmental justice in these policy discussions, and the need for climate solutions to take into account the disproportionate impacts felt by frontline communities. To this end, SEIA has developed principles for advocacy and a policy platform that SEIA and our members will follow as we work with elected officials and other stakeholders to create the equitable energy future we so badly need.

2019

Responsible Mineral Sourcing for Renewable Energy

Report • Institute for Sustainable Futures

This report presents the findings of an assessment of the projected mineral demand for fourteen metals used in renewable energy and storage technologies, the potential to reduce demand through efficiency and recycling, and the associated supply risks and impacts. It outlines “hot spots” where supply chain risks may occur and approaches the issue from a social and environmental impact lens.

2019

Mapping the Renewable Energy Sector to the Sustainable Development Goals: An Atlas

Guide • Sustainable Development Solutions Network

This guide provides an overview of how clean energy can align to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As developers, investors and operators develop projects, aligning with these SDGs can bolster organizational reputation, gain investors and minimize risks.

2017

Guide to Advancing Opportunities for Community Benefits through Energy Project Development

Guide • U.S. Department of Energy

As the energy sector transforms, Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) that consider the interests of individuals affected by energy development are paramount. This guide from the DOE outlines key considerations in the creation of CBAs.

2016

Free, Prior and Informed Consent: An indigenous people’s right and a good practice for local communities

Guide • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

This manual is designed to assist organizations in Free Prior and Informed Consent for projects concerning Indigenous people. By following the 6-step process in the manual, the benefits of Free Prior and Informed Consent can be highlighted regarding indigenous people.

Empowering Diversity in Clean Tech (EDICT) Internship

Program • Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI)

Empowering Diversity in Clean Tech – EDICT – is a summer internship program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) underrepresented, undergraduate students. In partnership with Elemental Excelerator, this internship is centered around providing access to meaningful careers solving climate change as it is about providing host companies with a community of practice focused on learning what action and how to take action to create environments where BIPOC people do not feel like they have to justify their presence.

Diverse Suppliers Database

Database • Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

Companies with diverse ownership work in every aspect and vertical within the solar industry, from manufacturers and project developers, to installers and financiers. This database has been developed at the direction of SEIA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Leadership Council as part of an effort to support and promote diverse businesses in the industry.

Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Database

Database • Renewables Forward

This database provides a list of minority and women-owned business enterprises offering services within the energy industry.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Database

Database • Renewables Forward

This database provides a list of historically diverse colleges producing incredible talent. Visit the institution’s Career Center page to connect with staff who can help find your next employee.

2023

An Introduction to Energy Resilience

Primer • CEBI

The Energy Resilience 101 series provides clean energy customers with a fundamental understanding of energy resilience and the key stakeholders responsible for ensuring continuity of business operations in the face of increased hazards. The series discusses strategies for strengthening resilience within an organization and aligning resilience with clean energy procurement goals.

2023

CEBI Resilience in Clean Energy Procurement: Frameworks and Approaches for Energy Customers

Primer • CEBI

The Energy Resilience 101 series provides clean energy customers with a fundamental understanding of energy resilience and the key stakeholders responsible for ensuring continuity of business operations in the face of increased hazards. The series dives into the specifics of how energy customers can use their clean energy procurement strategies to support energy resilience for their business, their communities, and their partners.