State, Local, and Tribal Program Overview (Text Version)

This video is an overview of the State, Local, and Tribal Program at NREL. It highlights the program's support of the U.S. Department of Energy through projects and tools that support the goals of energy resilience and clean energy transitions.

Video opens with text onscreen, "NREL State, Local, and Tribal Program."

NREL's State, Local, and Tribal Program is working to achieve solutions to our world's energy challenges every day

Shots of people planning and looking at solar project plans and panels on roof of building.

… meeting communities where they are and infusing relevant data, knowledge, and actions to support informed decision making.

Shot of NREL researchers discussing and looking at large screen with scientific visualizations. Leveraging NREL's research and community-based experience …

Shots of state and local government buildings, and cityscapes.

… and with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, we develop resources that are available to all 56,000 governments within the United States–enabling them to assess and transform their energy system …

Shots of homes with solar panels and electrical vehicle charging stations.

… to meet local needs and goals, improve resilience, and do so in a way that is affordable for people.

Shots of NREL researchers discussing and looking at a clean energy project in the field.

Since 2009, NREL has already supported more than …

Aerial view of government building with solar panels, work being done on the panels, text on screen reads 1,000 governments.

…1,000 of those governments on their clean energy journey …

Shots of people talking and looking at computers, text on screen reads "accessible data & tools, analysis, direct technical assistance."

… leveraging focused data and tools, in depth analysis, and direct technical assistance.

Shot of woman speaking: Megan Day, Senior Energy Planner, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Megan Day says, "I don't think a lot of people realize that part of NRELs mission is to also deliver them knowledge to integrate clean energy systems and technologies and that's what we do on the Technical assistance side of the house."

Shot of Tonto Apache recreation area solar project.

With a community-first approach, NREL and partners provide direct technical assistance and support- deploying the lab's suite of tools and knowledge to implement new projects and processes that help achieve energy goals.

Map of Kingston, New York, with clean energy picture overlayed.

For example, In Kingston, New York, we used data and analysis to help the city achieve their commitment to a 100% equitable clean energy transition by 2050.

Shot of home energy professionals weatherizing homes.

And around the country, home energy professionals are using NREL and industry developed guidelines and standards to ensure homes and buildings are energy efficient, safe, and healthy for occupants.

Visuals of tribal communities, school children, and government buildings.NREL also works with tribal communities, schools, and U.S. territories …

Shot of NREL researchers showing and presenting visuals on a large screen.

… offering clean energy solutions through analytical decision support, strategies, and advanced energy systems design.

Shot of NREL researcher talking with people, text on-screen reads "in-depth analysis."

NREL experts are thinkers and collaborative problem solvers, using in-depth analysis to bridge technological and human systems. Using scientific data and information, we are developing ways to improve our future Shot of power lines, meters, and wildfires.

Asking questions like, "How can we take a traditional electric grid, and make it more reliable and resilient to natural disasters and outages?" Shot of NREL researchers discussing in a collaborative workshop-type setting.

NREL analysts work with community leaders to identify and tailor known and emerging strategies, to develop new processes and achieve local goals.

Shot of computer screen showing various NREL online "tools." Text on screen reads "Accessible data and tools."

To accomplish all of this, we use NREL's suite of data-rich tools, developed with broad support from the U.S. Department of Energy. These tools are easily accessible and available to jurisdictions who want to move toward a clean energy future.

To name just a few … the State and Local Planning for Energy, or SLOPE, Platform helps decision makers understand their clean energy potential and decide which clean energy option is best for their area … while The Indian Energy Atlas provides geospatially resolved data for tribes looking understand their clean energy options.

Shots of researchers looking at data on screen, video of Hawaii wind turbines, and Puerto Rico at night.

The Engage Tool provides insight through modeling and supports clean energy transition goals in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Screenshots of Low-Income Energy Affordability Data online tool.

The Low-Income Energy Affordability Data, or LEAD Tool, informs communities about their low-income housing energy characteristics.

Shot of man speaking: Aaron Vimont, LEAD Tool Project Lead, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Aaron Vimont says, "It's important that we have tools out there, like the LEAD Tool, so that people have the information they need to make data-driven decisions. So, it's not just that they have decided area A get this low income energy program and area B doesn't. It's that they have the data so that they can actually affect those who are most marginalized and bring their energy costs down."

Shots of city views and people talking.

NREL's State, Local, and Tribal Program has prioritized the American people by supporting investments in our energy future—ultimately helping people save money on energy bills, provide increased reliability in electricity …

Shots of cars traveling on road.

… increased mobility …

View of hurricane as seen from space.

… and providing disaster resilience and recovery options.

Shot of woman speaking: Dr. Elizabeth Doris, Laboratory Program Manager – State, Local, and Tribal Program, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Elizabeth Doris says, "It's exciting to be at a point where our technologies, experience, partnerships and tools are really poised to support a larger number of state, local, and tribal governments take data-informed steps toward their brighter future. In addition to those on the ground needs, scaling up the efforts with a community focused approach enables us to inform national and economic priorities as well."

Shot of NREL researchers discussing projects.

NREL is working out the remaining challenges to clean energy technology …

Shot of a woman smiling.

… that truly benefit people

Shot of electric vehicle pulling up to charging station. …and integrate lessons into our energy systems for a better, more resilient tomorrow.

Text onscreen: nrel.gov/state-local-tribal, email: stat@nrel.gov.

Learn more at nrel.gov/state-local-tribal or email stat@nrel.gov to connect with our team directly to determine the best pathway to your clean energy future.

Video ends with a shot of two technicians in front of a wind turbine, an internal shot of a large greenhouse, and a skyward view of city buildings.