Higher Education Clean Energy Projects Map
The Higher Education Clean Energy Projects Map, developed by Second Nature, is an interactive tool that showcases over 700 clean energy projects implemented by higher education institutions across the United States. Most of the projects featured were initiated from 2021 onward and are connected to key federal initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). These projects collectively demonstrate the higher education sector’s leadership in advancing impactful, scalable, and diverse climate solutions.
For HEIs, this resource serves several strategic purposes:
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Showcasing Sector Leadership:
The map highlights the breadth and innovation of clean energy initiatives within higher education, positioning colleges and universities as vital contributors to national climate goals. Institutions can use this data to benchmark their progress and identify peer examples of successful projects. -
Supporting Funding and Investment Opportunities:
As many federal incentives and tax credits from the IRA and BIL begin to sunset, the map provides a valuable evidence base for advocating continued investment in higher education clean energy projects. Sustainability professionals can leverage it to demonstrate project impact and effectiveness when pursuing new funding streams or partnerships. -
Advancing Policy and Advocacy Efforts:
By illustrating how federal investments have supported tangible results on campuses nationwide, the map strengthens the case for ongoing public support and policy development. HEIs can use the visual data to engage with policymakers, local governments, and community partners to promote continued climate action. -
Encouraging Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:
The platform enables institutions to learn from one another by exploring similar projects in scale, technology, or funding source. This can inspire replication of best practices, foster collaboration, and accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality and energy resilience goals.
Overall, the Higher Education Clean Energy Projects Map is not only a showcase of accomplishments but also a strategic advocacy and planning tool that empowers HEIs to sustain momentum in the clean energy transition, advocate for policy support, and strengthen the higher education sector’s collective role in addressing the climate crisis.
🔗Check out the tool here: https://secondnature.org/resources/hecemap/