Clean Energy Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

The document asserts that the transition to clean energy requires a synergistic approach combining utility-scale power, local electricity production (such as rooftop solar), and a modernized transmission system. It rejects the framing of these solutions as being in competition, noting that solar and wind are the least-cost power sources and that combining them enhances grid resilience during extreme weather. The author calls for federal infrastructure legislation and state-level planning to support both inter-regional transmission and local power generation.

• Utility-scale power and local electricity production, such as rooftop solar, are mutually beneficial and should be deployed together rather than viewed as competing solutions.
• Solar and wind energy are identified as the least-cost power sources and produce zero emissions.
• Modernizing and expanding the national transmission system is a requirement for building necessary wind and solar capacity, while local solar and storage provide critical community support during extreme weather outages.
• Synergistic optimization of local and utility-scale power results in greater cost savings.
• To achieve these goals, the author recommends that pending congressional infrastructure legislation provide financial support and reforms for inter-regional transmission, utility-scale power, and local power, and that states encourage utilities to plan synergistically with neighbors.

APA

RMI (2021). Clean Energy Is Not a Zero-Sum Game. https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-is-not-a-zero-sum-game/

Chicago

RMI. Clean Energy Is Not a Zero-Sum Game. 2021. https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-is-not-a-zero-sum-game/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=RMI |title=Clean Energy Is Not a Zero-Sum Game |date=16 July 2021 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-is-not-a-zero-sum-game/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{rmi2021clean, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Clean Energy Is Not a Zero-Sum Game}}, publisher = {RMI}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-is-not-a-zero-sum-game/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }