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7 Organizations Advancing Renewable Energy 

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Renewable energy is becoming more and more important than ever in today’s rapidly warming world. As global climate change worsens, transitioning to sustainable and clean energy sources is essential for the environment.

Renewable energy is not just about reducing carbon emissions but is also necessary for ensuring a more reliable and sustainable source of power for the future. With advancements in technology and changes in energy consumption, communities must have access to sustainable energy technologies.

Unfortunately, many communities still struggle with outdated energy systems, insufficient investment, and policy barriers. Addressing these challenges is crucial to reducing carbon footprint and providing a cleaner, healthier future. This article details 7 great organizations working to advance renewable energy, showcasing their work and how you can support them.

Elevate Energy 

Elevate Energy is an organization that creates equal communities in which everyone has renewable and affordable heat, cooling, and power in their homes. Since its founding in 2000, they have worked with property owners to build electrification systems in their buildings, remove fossil fuels, and reduce carbon emissions. Elevate Energy also offers solar energy services to help people gain high-quality panel systems and find suitable places for implementation. 

Since its founding, Elevate Energy has supported over 1.2 million people in implementing renewable energy in 260,000 buildings. Through this, they helped reduce 300,000 tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere and provided clean energy training jobs for 1,700 people.

Today, they continue to design and implement programs to make clean energy accessible to everyone. Donations to Elevate Energy support efforts to reduce carbon emissions, advance equitable climate solutions, and promote workforce opportunities in climate action, aiming for a carbon-free economy by 2030.

Clean Air Task Force

The Clean Air Task Force is an organization that funds affordable and environmentally sustainable solutions to meet the rising demand for renewable energy. Since its founding in 1996, they have worked to reduce carbon emissions in areas such as transportation, by advancing infrastructure for renewable energy sources. In areas difficult to power electrically such as aviation or marine shipping, they promote clean hydrogen as a power source.

The Clean Air Task Force also advocates for nuclear energy and fusion energy as a clean energy alternative and increasing access to geothermal energy as another replacement for fossil fuels. In 2022 alone, the Clean Air Task Force helped fund $62 billion in direct clean energy investment, like large-scale programs, huge renewable energy hubs, and electrification projects. Donations to Clean Air Task Force support efforts to reduce emissions, advance clean energy technologies, combat climate change, and protect public health globally.

Ocean Conservancy

The Ocean Conservancy is an organization that was originally founded in 1972 to protest commercial whaling and raise awareness about environmental and marine life issues. Today, they continue to protect the ocean’s biodiversity and accelerate ocean-based solutions for clean and renewable energy.

The Ocean Conservancy promotes and implements renewable energy projects using resources from the ocean, such as wave energy and hydroelectric power. In addition, they combat climate change by developing tidal energy projects across the US and investing in offshore wind energy initiatives to provide renewable power to communities.

Today, the Ocean Conservancy has continued to advance clean ocean energy. In 2023 alone, they raised $2.6 billion to fund offshore wind and renewable energy initiatives. Donations to Ocean Conservancy support research and advocacy to protect the ocean and its wildlife, advancing solutions to climate change and promoting ocean-based renewable energy.

Solar Aid

Solar Aid is an organization that works to provide solar-powered lights to disadvantaged African communities. Since its founding in 2006, they have worked with local African communities to create sustainable solar programs in places where grid electrification does not reach. SolarAid distributes solar lights to entire villages and partners with healthcare clinics and schools to help patients be treated and students learn better.

Since their inception, they have provided 2.3 million solar lights to 12.5 million people in Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, and Senegal, helping families save money by not having to spend on dangerous candles or toxic kerosene. They light avert 1.1 tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere each. Donations to SolarAid support efforts to combat poverty and climate change through access to safe solar lights, and improving health, education, and sustainable energy solutions.

Clean Grid Alliance 

The Clean Grid Alliance is an organization that works to develop renewable energy resources in the midwestern US. Since its founding in 2001, they have promoted renewable energy to lawmakers, landowners, and the public. The Clean Grid Alliance advances wind power as a sustainable form of energy and implements cost-effective wind turbine projects. They also educate on the environmental and agricultural benefits of using solar energy, increasing the demand for solar energy and improving ways of recycling solar panels.

In addition, they building electric transmission lines across the country to generate reliable and safe energy for communities to use. Since its founding, the Clean Grid Alliance has helped create almost 1,500 wind and solar projects in the Midwest, providing 51,000 megawatts of energy to people in need. Donations to Clean Grid Alliance support efforts to advance renewable energy in the Midwest, working to progress toward a clean energy future.

Utah Clean Energy 

Utah Clean Energy is an organization that was founded in 2002 to promote energy efficiency and clean energy technologies to policymakers and the general public. Today, they work to make wind, solar, and geothermal power affordable solutions for local communities and businesses. Utah Clean Energy promotes the transition to an electric grid powered only by renewable energies such as wind or solar power.

They collaborate with communities to create all-electric homes and buildings, with advanced solar panels and all-electric heating technologies instead of fossil fuels. Since its founding, Utah Clean Energy has raised more than $2 billion to provide wind, solar, and geothermal energy to 650,000 homes, averting 2 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, and has also transitioned 4 coal plants to renewable energy providing 7,000 megawatts of clean energy and preventing 14 million tons of greenhouse gas pollution every year.

Donations to Utah Clean Energy support efforts to dramatically cut carbon emissions, promoting climate and clean air solutions through advocacy and action.

Renewable World

Renewable World is an organization that works to deliver clean energy solutions to the world’s biggest problems. Since its founding in 2008, they have created local projects for access to renewable energy in communities in Kenya and Nepal. Renewable World helps build businesses and farms using reliable and affordable green energy to improve lives.

They also use solar power to develop and install water pumping systems and electrify health centers and educational facilities. Since their founding, Renewable World has reached over 120,000 people with renewable energy projects that have averted 33,000 tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

Today, they continue to work in Kenya and Nepal to help people in poverty change their lives through renewable energy opportunities. Donations to Renewable World help empower individuals towards a sustainable and brighter future, joining a network of supporters to collectively address the global climate and energy crises.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the transition to renewable energy is vital for addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. The organizations highlighted in this article are at the forefront of this problem. They work to promote and implement clean energy solutions, reduce carbon emissions, and foster innovation in sustainable technologies. By supporting these organizations, we can help overcome the barriers to renewable energy adoption and contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet for the future.

About the author

Matea Tam