CESA Working Groups and Learning Networks
CESA manages a number of working groups and learning networks, which are small groups geared towards discussing specific topics. Groups hold periodic meetings for discussion and resource sharing, and for presentations by experts in the field. Some of these groups are restricted to CESA members or representatives of state clean energy agencies. Participation requirements and restrictions for each group, and information on how to get involved, are described below. Those who sign up to join a CESA working group and/or learning network will receive information, resources, and event invitations related to the respective topic.
As part of CESA’s Building Decarbonization and Clean Heating/Cooling project, the Building Decarbonization Working Group (BuDWG) facilitates conversations with state members to identify policies and programs that support building decarbonization. Working group calls present members with opportunities to highlight their building decarbonization programs and successes, and to engage in discussion on topics of common interest such as building codes, low- to moderate-income building solutions, building electrification, financing, grid-integrated solutions, and technology-specific challenges and opportunities.
CESA Staff Contact: Warren Leon (wleon@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: CESA Members
To Join: Email Warren
As part of CESA’s Energy Storage Policy for States project, the Energy Storage Working Group (ESWG) provides CESA members with regular opportunities to learn and share knowledge about energy storage. The group meets regularly for policy and program updates from members, and to hear from experts on topics of interest such as market participation, energy storage valuation, energy storage in microgrids, and virtual power plants.
CESA Staff Contacts: Todd Olinsky-Paul and Anna Adamsson
Open to: CESA Members
To Join: Email Anna
As part of the Offshore Wind Accelerator Project, CESA facilitates multi-state dialogue on state offshore wind policies and programs. States discuss procurement mechanism best practices, contracting structures, workforce and economic development considerations, and more. We invite experts on a diverse range of topics such as transmission, the European policy and regulatory experience, port development, and job growth.
CESA Staff Contact: Vero Bourg-Meyer (vero@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: CESA Members
To Join: Email Vero
Under the single-family homes portion of the Scaling Up Solar for Under-Resourced Communities project, CESA is promoting a program model that has successfully supported the installation of more than 1,500 solar projects for low-to moderate-income (LMI) homeowners in Connecticut. The program, a partnership between the quasi-governmental Connecticut Green Bank and the solar leasing and energy efficiency company PosiGen, supports solar for LMI homeowners through an elevated LMI solar incentive and a financing and focused marketing initiative. Read more about the program here.
- Learning Network about Solar for LMI Homeowners
CESA and its project partners have a learning network where information about Connecticut’s program will be shared with interested stakeholders. The learning network will also provide opportunities to discuss issues related to solar for LMI homeowners and opportunities to adapt the Connecticut’s program to other jurisdictions. Sign up to join CESA’s Learning Network about Solar for LMI Homeowners here. Subscribers will receive periodic updates about this project, including relevant meeting and report announcements, and information and analysis on Connecticut’s program.
CESA Staff Contact: Vero Bourg-Meyer (vero@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: All interested stakeholders
To Join: Sign up here.
- State Working Group about Solar Program Development for LMI Homeowners
CESA leads a working group for state officials to learn more about Connecticut’s program and explore launching a publicly supported solar program for LMI homeowners in their states. Participation in the working group enables state officials to access resources for designing and implementing solar programs for LMI homeowners, to request technical assistance from the members of the project team, and to obtain other support for establishing solar programs for LMI homeowners in their state.
CESA Staff Contact: Vero Bourg-Meyer (vero@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: State Officials
To Join: Email Vero
CESA is examining the potential for using solar to power manufactured homes (formerly referred to as mobile homes) in different states—a relatively untapped sub market for solar deployment. Manufactured homes make up over 6 percent of America’s housing stock and represent an even larger share of housing for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. For this component of the Scaling Up Solar for Under-Resourced Communities project, CESA works with state government agencies, rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and other stakeholders to help them explore the potential for launching pilot solar projects or programs for manufactured homes. Learn more about this project here.
- Solar for Manufactured Homes Learning Network
CESA has a learning network for state policymakers, utilities, solar industry representatives, manufactured homes associations, and other interested stakeholders who want to be invited to virtual events to learn more about the topic of solar for manufactured homes.
CESA Staff Contact: Vero Bourg-Meyer (vero@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: All interested stakeholders
To Join: Sign up here.
- Solar for Manufactured Homes Working Group
CESA is organizing a working group of state agencies and utilities that want to explore developing pilot solar projects or programs that benefit manufactured homes residents.
CESA Staff Contact: Vero Bourg-Meyer (vero@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: State agencies and utilities
To Join: Email Vero
As part of the Scaling Up Solar for Under-Resourced Communities project, CESA is focused on scaling the development of solar paired with storage (solar+storage) for community-serving facilities, with an emphasis on multifamily affordable housing, senior care facilities, and community health centers. The principal objectives of the effort are to increase community resilience and reduce energy costs through expanding philanthropic investment in innovative solar+storage financing models.
- Multifamily Affordable Housing Learning Network
CESA has a learning network for stakeholders interested in solar+storage financing for community-serving facilities. This learning network is open to any organization seeking to improve resiliency outcomes for underserved communities.
CESA Staff Contact: Abbe Ramanan (abbe@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: All interested stakeholders
To Join: Email Abbe
- Multifamily Affordable Housing Working Group
CESA has a working group of foundations looking to learn more about ways to leverage their investment funds to accelerate the deployment of solar+storage in low-to moderate-income (LMI) communities.
CESA Staff Contact: Abbe Ramanan (abbe@cleanegroup.org)
Open to: Foundations
To Join: Email Abbe