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This guide outlines the Renewables Investment for Social Equity (RISE) model, which enables tax-exempt entities to use the IRS 'direct pay' (elective pay) mechanism to deliver affordable solar energy to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. The model allows tax-exempt organizations to own solar systems, install them at low or no upfront cost for residents, and recover costs via the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

RMI proposes a new financing model where tax-exempt entities (e.g., CDFIs, green banks, and local governments) act as third-party owners of solar assets for low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. By utilizing the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) 'direct pay' mechanism and bonus tax adders, these entities can monetize credits that LMI homeowners cannot, reducing energy burdens and increasing solar adoption. The paper details implementation steps, identifies potential owners, discusses challenges such as CDFI certification and domestic content requirements, and highlights early adopters in Georgia, Ohio, Minnesota, Maryland, and New York City.

This report by RMI outlines a strategic framework—focused on competitiveness, constraints, and coordination—to accelerate energy transition investment in the Great Lakes region. It argues that while the region possesses significant industrial legacies and innovation assets, it faces structural hurdles such as slow population growth, labor shortages, and a lack of cohesive industrial strategies. The document proposes that states move beyond simple investment attraction toward coordinated industrial policies, leveraging federal incentives from the IRA, IIJA, and CHIPS Act to build regional clusters in sectors like EV batteries, low-carbon steel, and sustainable fuels.

This briefing by RMI describes how local governments in the United States can use inclusive "Solarize" (community bulk-purchasing) campaigns to reduce the solar equity gap for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. It highlights the role of the Inflation Reduction Act in supporting these efforts and provides evidence from RMI-supported campaigns that utilized community partnerships, targeted funding, and trusted messengers to increase solar adoption in marginalized communities.

This 2009 fact sheet by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the potential of unharvested crops and food processing waste as biomass feedstocks for biofuels. It argues that these resources can provide renewable energy and chemicals without competing with food production, highlighting specific waste streams from the potato, orange, and tomato industries and the economic benefits of recycling these materials.