From the Ground Up: How Community-Based Organizations Can Build an Equitable and Clean Energy Future

This guide by the World Resources Institute explains how community-based organizations (CBOs) can bridge the gap between low- to moderate-income (LMI) households and clean energy programs. It argues that CBOs are uniquely qualified to design and implement solar initiatives because of their deep local trust and understanding of systemic barriers. The document provides seven specific strategies for CBO engagement and highlights case studies from Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Michigan to demonstrate replicable pathways for equitable solar deployment.

• Rising electricity rates and energy burdens disproportionately affect low-income households, particularly Black, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant families. Since 2021, the average residential electricity bill has increased by $22 per month, and one in four low-income households spends more than 15% of their income on energy.
• LMI households face four primary barriers to solar adoption: the need for prior home repairs (such as roofs and electrical systems), high installation costs despite incentives, complex application processes, and a distrust of solar developers due to predatory practices.
• CBOs are uniquely positioned to lead LMI solar programs because they possess three key characteristics: they are deeply trusted by the communities they serve, they are accessible and approachable, and they have a deep understanding of the local context.
• WRI identifies seven strategies for CBOs to promote LMI solar: amplifying success stories, raising awareness of existing programs, co-designing programs, connecting residents to workforce development, helping with program enrollment, joining advisory committees, and vetting solar installers.
• The Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) Congregational Solar Program, active since 2018, has installed 620 kilowatts across 25 projects, offsetting 3,541 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually by acting as a liaison between houses of worship, installers, and utilities.
• Washington, D.C.’s Solar for All program, administered since 2016 and funded via the Renewable Portfolio Standard of 2016, utilized CBOs to generate community buy-in and serve as connectors between the program administrator and subscribers.
• Michigan's Solar for All program, an EPA grant awardee, integrated CBOs as site hosts for community solar (such as resilience hubs) and as educators on energy efficiency and storage, though the program was formally canceled by the EPA in August 2025.

APA

World Resources Institute (2025). From the Ground Up: How Community-Based Organizations Can Build an Equitable and Clean Energy Future. https://www.wri.org/technical-perspective/community-based-organizations-clean-energy-solar-programs

Chicago

World Resources Institute. From the Ground Up: How Community-Based Organizations Can Build an Equitable and Clean Energy Future. 2025. https://www.wri.org/technical-perspective/community-based-organizations-clean-energy-solar-programs.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=From the Ground Up: How Community-Based Organizations Can Build an Equitable and Clean Energy Future |date=25 September 2025 |url=https://www.wri.org/technical-perspective/community-based-organizations-clean-energy-solar-programs |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2025from, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{From the Ground Up: How Community-Based Organizations Can Build an Equitable and Clean Energy Future}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://www.wri.org/technical-perspective/community-based-organizations-clean-energy-solar-programs}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }