The Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings together rural leaders from across the US and equips them to build thriving local clean energy futures through inspiration, education, partnerships, and practical technical and funding support.
Groundswell is a 501c3 nonprofit that builds community power through equitable community solar projects and resilience centers, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and pioneering research initiatives that help light the way to clean energy futures for all. Groundswell leads clean energy programs and projects in five states including the District of Columbia, serving more than 6,000 income-qualified customers with more than $8 million in clean energy savings to date.
Our partners from the Beneficial Electrification League will be leading a workshop discussing opportunities around further electrification of the economy.
BEL is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2018 with a mission to
increase understanding of how beneficial electrification can save consumers money, improve air
quality and lower emissions, foster a more robust and resilient grid, and improve quality
of life.
Our partners at the Rural Climate Partners will be leading a workshop on bringing in private capital providers and foundations to outline how to leverage varying pre-development funds and financing to advance a project to prepare for broader implementation dollars.
The Rural Climate Partnership is a new funding collaborative built to
address a straightforward reality: We need change in rural America to
achieve an ambitious climate agenda, meet emissions-reduction targets,
and authentically foster equity and environmental justice. Our theory of
change centers hardworking people, small businesses, and family farmers
as the drivers of local economies and rural-led climate solutions.
Utilizing a place-based, sustainable job, and economic development
strategy, we empower communities to protect what they love about where
they live. With a focus on clean energy, regenerative agriculture,
narrative transformation, and securing federal funding for rural
communities, we work towards accelerating clean energy deployment,
expanding climate-smart farming practices, combating misinformation, and
ensuring rural areas benefit from federal climate dollars. Through
grantmaking, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and narrative
infrastructure, we work to reduce energy costs for families, empower
small businesses, and provide opportunities for rural communities to
thrive sustainably.
Sol Systems is a leading national solar energy firm with an established reputation for integrity and reliability across its development, infrastructure, and environmental commodity businesses. Sol Systems is operating and building over 2 GW of solar projects valued at more than $2 billion for Fortune 100 companies, municipalities, counties, utilities, universities, and schools and provides environmental commodity portfolio management services to more than 20,000 customers across the US. The company was founded in 2008, is based in Washington, D.C., and is led by its founder. Sol Systems works with institutional clients, corporate partners, and foundations to create a more sustainable future we can all believe in.
Each $2000 contribution provides a full scholarship including travel and accommodations for a rural leader representing a community with a population of less than 50,000.
Michelle Moore is author of “Rural Renaissance” and CEO of Groundswell, a 501(c)(3) that builds community power by eliminating energy burdens and increasing economic opportunity with community solar, resilience centers, residential energy efficiency, and pioneering research. A social entrepreneur and former White House official with roots in rural Georgia, Michelle is a relentless agent for change. Her accomplishments range from cutting the government’s energy bill by $11 billion and deploying 3.2 Gigawatts of new renewable energy for President Obama, to developing LEED into a globally recognized brand for USGBC. Michelle also serves as Secretary of the Board for the Interdenominational Theological Center. Her work is rooted in her faith and the commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself".
Program Tracks
We wanted to provide a special thanks to designer Summer Wood for her graphic designs.