| Resource Type | Toolkit |
| Author / Source | Chan-Lizardo, Clayton, Valdes, Draklellis, Richardson (RMI) |
| Publication Date | August 2024 |
| Location | United States |
| Initiative Type | Program, Partnership, Policy |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Staff, Board, Community Organizations |
View Toolkit Requires name and email to download
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
This spreadsheet is a library of about 50 real community benefits delivered by utilities, cooperatives, developers, and communities. It was created alongside RMI's Community Benefits in Energy Projects report, and comes with a short Quick Start Guide that shows how to search it by stakeholder priority.
The federal funding environment has changed, but the examples are still a practical source of ideas for future projects. A co-op can see what peer co-ops have actually delivered, and use concrete examples when talking with members and communities about local benefits.
Key Takeaways
| › | Benefits are organized into 15 stakeholder priorities across four stages, from project siting through public reporting, so co-ops can find ideas at any point in a project. |
| › | About a fifth of the examples come from co-ops, and most of those were delivered as part of everyday co-op work rather than as a condition of federal funding. |
| › | Each example includes RMI's suggestions for making the benefit stronger and SMART metrics for measuring it, which helps co-ops track real results and not just activities. |
| › | Treat the federal requirement columns as historical context, not current eligibility guidance. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: Some examples relied on New ERA, GRIP, or IRA funding, which is not available to co-ops without an approved award. New applicants should not count on that pathway. Many benefits in the catalog, such as member input at board meetings or revolving loan funds, need little or no federal money.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: The workbook is dense, with more than 30 columns per row, and it takes time to learn how to use it. Smaller co-ops may get more out of it by starting with the Quick Start Guide and filtering by one priority, or by working with a statewide association or partner organization.
- Time-Sensitive Information: The columns covering USDA, DOE, Justice40, and IRA elective pay reflect 2024 rules. Justice40 was rescinded in January 2025, and the federal CBP and tax credit criteria have changed since then, so check current requirements before relying on these columns.
Notable Examples
- Roanoke Electric Cooperative:Upgrade to $ave on-bill efficiency program financed with a USDA Rural Energy Savings Program loan, plus a land retention program for African American landowners.
- Sioux Valley Energy:REVIVE 2030 program that expanded its economic development team after communities asked for hands-on help.
- Central Electric Cooperative and People's Electric Cooperative:Revolving loan funds that provide gap financing for local businesses and child care facilities.
- NRECA and seven partner co-ops:DOE-funded microgrid projects aimed at lower bills and fewer outages in rural towns.
- Missoula Electric Cooperative: Labor standards above the prevailing wage and an IBEW collective bargaining agreement, cited in its GRIP Community Benefits Plan.
- Pontotoc Electric Power Association: Members may speak at board meetings on agenda items, a simple transparency practice.
View Toolkit Requires name and email to download
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
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