This is a wide-ranging look at some different resources that guide people on the steps to build good renewable energy (RE) projects and policies. Some are written for planners, some for organizers, some are more uneven.
Top Resources
 | A fantastic guide (aimed for people in the European context) about a range of community-owned plans and structures. Much information helpful to other contexts. Available in multiple languages (ENG, PT, CZ, FR, GR, PL, ES, HRV, HU). | |
 | A really good resource based for US-legislative-minded campaigns on getting renewable energy policies oriented towards climate justice. Written by NAACP, a long-standing Black civil rights organisation. | |
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This toolkit is offers examples and helpful case studies about how different regions found funding and ownership structures for renewable energy. Irena has other toolkits based on their global scan of what’s out there. | |
 | There is some good story-telling about efforts to switch. Its commitment to climate justice is limited — as withinin the context of the World Economic Forum. But the stories are helpful. | |
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A good global resource with materials and case studies about the technical aspects of mini-grids. Everything from National Planning and Policy, Economics, Community Involvement, Ownership Models and more… | |
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The Global 100% Renewable Energy Platform’s 100% RE Building Blocks toolkit |
This is a fillable PDF with an extensive set of questions one might have to ask for a specific RE project. For a detailed-oriented person, this is a very helpful starting point. |
For specific audiences
US CAMPUS/UNIVERSITY
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US PIRG’s Tools for moving your campus to 100% renewable energy |
Mostly case studies and a mix of some story-telling to inspire that your college/university can do it, too. If your target is a campus, this will be a good one to peruse. |
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
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African Development Bank’s Green Mini Help Desk (in English and French) |
Described as “Providing complete information for developers and policymakers of green mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa.” Some of their resources eg. about funding, ownership models and community engagement are interesting |
EUROPE
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A fantastic guide for people in the European context about a range of community-owned plans and structures. Available in multiple languages (ENG, PT, CZ, FR, GR, PL, ES, HRV, HU). | |
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A helpful guide for businesses on how they can support the transition | |
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Not a toolkit but a network of cooperative-owned projects. If you are running a community-owned project, especially using a cooperative model, in Europe, they will help provide resources and support. |
NON-WESTERN COUNTRIES
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UN-led Initiative Sustainable Energy for All’s Resource Guide |
This has a lot of links to other resources — some good, some not so good. But if you’re in a region, you can see a few resources that might be relevant to your context. (Typically better for non-Western countries.) |
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US
 | A US-based grassroots organisation writing about the practical steps to develop a local renewable energy campaign. Geared for local groups with practical steps:
They have other toolsets: Activating Supporters Online, Tell Impactful Stories, and more. | |
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This is a good model for a locally regional toolkit on how to pitch renewable energy for your locality. It has a few generic resources but much more about the specific about New York’s solar options. | |
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University of Massachusett – Amherst’s Clean Energy Extension’s Community Planning for Solar Toolkit |
Yes, this is written from a US college extension — but it’s pretty high-quality. Some sections are detailed about their locale’s specifics, but has portions written for a general audience. Very useable. |
CANADA (MUNICIPAL)
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Climate Caucus’ Infiltration Manual: Pushing for Ambitious Climate Action at the Munincipal Level |
A very helpful manual for regular people on how to move a municipal government to implement climate action. This is rooted in Canada context. |
CANADA
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The Council of Canadians’ Green New Deal Communities Organizing Guide |
A Canadian-specific campaign toolkit. Not super practical for global communities but covers the big pieces. |
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Another Canadian model toolkit of the basics to get involved in a campaign: submit LTE, do art, host a house meeting… |
NEW ZEALAND
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How to Guide: Deploying community energy projects in Aotearoa New Zealand |
A basic 3-step model of organizing community energy projects from New Zealand |
Additional resources
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This is less a single “toolkit” and more a series of a lot of articles. If you are looking for some very specific detailed technical help, this may have it, such as info on property market rules, bill repayment, municipal payments, etc. | |
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Climate Caucus Councillor Handbook’s Mobility Electrification |
This is focused on transportation sector — but it’s a good framework for how a campaigning model might look and what it looks like. |
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A very smart, savvy scorecard on helping to assess renewable energy projects. We used this scorecard to inspire 350’s scorecoard. |
Government planning guides
There’s a ton of government guidelines where they attempt to orient consumers/businesses/RE companies in how to navigate their resources they’ve set up. This isn’t even coles to an exhaustive list. If your government subsidizes RE, they may have some versions like these resources. They won’t teach you how to organize; but they will be helpful for technical orientations and the language of the internal advocates. They are also providing planners guidance on how to implement these kinds of projects.
Examples:
- Welsh Government’s Practice Guidance on Planning for Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Energy – A Toolkit for Planners
- London
- US DOE’s Low-income
- US DOE’s Cecilia for Low-income
- US DOE to Local Gov’ts
- EPA’s for Decisionmakers
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USAID provides some data for RE in various parts of the global. These aren’t organizing toolkits but resources like:
These are all USAID-backed projects. | |
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The training sessions are mostly speakers talking about you about a topic. But it’s content is decent. |