Environmental And Energy Study Institute

Technical assistance (access clean energy savings program). Eesi provides technical assistance to help rural utilities develop and implement inclusive on-bill financing programs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and beneficial electrification. In 2024, eesi worked with 30 rural utilities and four green banks and assisted with three zero-interest rural energy savings program loan applications for $80 million (for cumulative totals of 25 utilities and $320 million in secured funds). Eesi-assisted on-bill financing programs financed at least 950 clean energy projects worth about $27 million (for a cumulative total of 4,850 worth about $115 million). Key accomplishments in 2024 included assistance to rural utilities and green banks to develop, implement, and capitalize on-bill financing programs; support for the electrify and save on-bill financing program, includings its application for a $75 million loan from the rural energy savings program; an article about the job-creation benefits of the rural energy savings program; updates to the beneficial electrification toolkit (www.betoolkit.org); and engagement with nonprofits about the multiple benefits of energy efficiency.

Opportunities for students (richard l. Ottinger internship and future climate leaders' scholarship programs). Eesi offers paid internships to undergraduate students pursuing studies in fields related to climate policy. Interns gain experience in policy, communications, research, and nonprofit management. The internship program is named for eesi co-founder and board chair emeritus richard l. "dick" ottinger, who formerly represented new york in congress. Eesi also offers the future climate leaders scholarship program, which is administered by uncf (united negro college fund) and available to undergraduate students pursuing relevant studies at mid-atlantic historically-black colleges and universities. Key accomplishments in 2024 included 12 paid internships and three scholarships for undergraduate students pursuing studies in fields related to climate policy.