Resilient Together

The clean energy community understands resilience deeply, and our work is delivering results. Advancements in the energy efficiency market are a testament to decades of work by dedicated clean energy professionals across the country who have made substantial progress toward an equitable energy transition.

Look at heat pump technology outselling gas furnaces, clean energy jobs growing twice as fast as other areas of the economy, and state-level utility investments in energy efficiency at an all-time high of $8.8 billion annually according to ACEEE.

Look also at a new report from Energy Innovation, showing that the Inflation Reduction Act has already created 400,000 new jobs and spurred $600 billion of additional private clean energy investment. Or the Rewiring America report that found electrifying the nation’s homes would significantly improve indoor air quality, reduce childhood asthma, and lower energy bills by $60 billion every year.

These proof points matter, because they demonstrate the strength of our community and our ability to lead. The biggest achievements, however, are the impacts we deliver to our local communities. The DC Sustainable Energy Utility, for example, has helped deliver more than $2 billion in lifetime cost savings for the District’s residents and businesses by responsibly deploying $180 million in rebates and incentives. This work has made a tremendous difference in residents’ lives. At one project, the affordable housing complex Paradise at Parkside, the DCSEU team supported the installation of 24 community solar facilities serving over 500 income-qualified households, integrated heat pumps into over 550 units, and delivered 150 home energy conservation kits to residents. These improvements are saving Parkside community members up to $500 each year on their electric bills, making a meaningful difference in each family’s budget.

The bottom line is clear. Clean energy boosts our economy, spurs innovation, and improves the health and wellbeing of families and businesses everywhere.

What’s also clear is that the people who make this work possible need our support now more than ever. Our work is under attack.

To the nonprofits and federal workers fighting to maintain funding that keeps families warm in winter, provides low-interest loans for multifamily building upgrades, enables small business owners to install new lighting, or allows dairy farmers to improve the refrigeration systems they rely on: VEIC stands alongside you. We share your frustration, and we’re eager to keep building solutions together.    

As we move forward, it’s important to reinforce the proven results and common themes driving our industry’s work:  

1. Economic value and energy affordability. As energy use and cost burdens continue to rise, the need for energy conservation programs that reduce bills and support a more reliable grid is also at a record high. Fortunately, we have solutions. For decades, energy efficiency programs have consistently delivered energy and cost savings to the communities they serve, proving that clean energy investments are a key component of making energy affordable for all.  
2. Innovation and inclusion. We are committed to driving innovation that increases program participation, clean technology adoption, and savings delivered to income-qualified households. This is crucial because we know the impacts of our changing climate fall most heavily on low-income households. Green lending and other flexible funding solutions are vital to support under-resourced communities and accelerate these outcomes. We must ensure everyone has the opportunity to adopt the clean energy solutions that will lower their energy costs.
3. Climate work is resilient. The resilience of climate work and the people who contribute to it is unwavering. This industry has come together to overcome barriers in the past and will remain resilient through the current challenges and beyond. Clean energy solutions are in high demand, and the sector is steadfast in its commitment to meet people’s needs.  

VEIC, like many of our peers, continues our mission to generate the energy solutions the world needs. Over our nearly 40-year history, this commitment has saved people money, improved public health, and protected our communities from the risks of climate change. And we are not done yet.

We are proud to grow our impact alongside the talented, hardworking people and organizations that make up the clean energy community.

—, CEO