Leading locally: energy policy and program setbacks and progress from local governments in the United States’ constrained policy environment

Extended abstract 5-106-26

2025 was a year of unprecedented challenges and undone progress on climate and energy goals in the United States due to the new federal administration’s priorities. In this presentation, experts in US energy efficiency will share our lessons learned from our first year and a half in this new era for climate and energy policy as we continued to provide in-depth technical assistance to local governments across the United States that are struggling to adapt to a changing federal policy landscape and the loss of billions of dollars of federal funding to support local climate and energy work. In 2025-2026, we supported dozens of local governments and their community-based partners on topics such as engaging community members in electrification work; implementing building benchmarking and performance standards; developing policy and program strategies for community-wide decarbonization of affordable housing; identifying stable funding sources to finance retrofit programs; and more. These communities represent rural and urban areas; small to major cities; and both politically progressive and conservative states.  

Despite the policy chaos and severe funding impacts inflicted by the new federal administration on these communities, local government leaders and their partners across diverse sectors have forged ahead with climate and energy initiatives. Cities and towns have taken innovative approaches to navigating the hurdles of a restrictive political climate to continue to advance local sustainability and resilience. These lessons are useful for any local government globally looking to make progress on energy efficiency in spite of state, provincial, or national roadblocks. Our presentation will provide inspiring examples of how these local government leaders have creatively and tenaciously made progress on advancing innovative programs and policies that reduce building energy use, improve energy affordability, promote decarbonization, and generate other health and wellbeing benefits in their communities. We will share examples from our technical assistance work and best practices that we have observed in the many communities we’ve supported. These examples provide a rich and thought-provoking framework for adaptation to the context of cities across Europe that are also facing political challenges, social divisiveness, and energy availability and affordability crises. 

Download presentation.