As utilities ramp up clean energy spending, advocates and regulators alike want to ensure the energy transition includes benefits for marginalized and impacted communities. In this article Integrating Local Community Interests into Utility DER Procurement, Guidehouse captures new thinking around energy equity and DERs from GridFWD 2022 as well as its recent collaboration with Puget Sound Energy for procurement of DERs.
In the GridFWD 2022 huddle session “Creating Resiliency through Community Engagement” attendees heard from panelists and participants about various types and depth of community engagement needed for equitable and effective grid investments. In particular, they explored how to engage the understaffed, underfunded organizations that serve the most vulnerable communities. Putting this line of thinking into practice, Puget Sound Energy bifurcated its 2022 Targeted DER RFP to make it easier for small businesses and community organizations to participate, lowering barriers to entry.
