Presentation Title:
Financing Decarbonization: A Future Beyond Grants
Track D: Clean Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities
Session D1: Funding Opportunities for the Energy Transition
Day 1 - March 11, 2026Â 2:00 pm
Speaker(s):
Abstract:
| To succeed in decarbonization activities outlined in their Climate Action Plans, cities and counties should emphasize private sector financing rather than rely too much on taxpayer funds. Financing clean energy and climate actions at the local level relied heavily on federal grants such as provided for in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Those potential sources disappeared with the new administration in 2025. As an alternative, cities and counties should seek private sector financing from banks, equity investors, carbon investors, and energy services companies. An important and needed role for local government is providing consumer information for the general public. |