The Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI) launched the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative recently to create a resilient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable energy system for the benefit of all by leveraging energy customer demands for clean energy. Energy customer companies continue to demonstrate their critical role in influencing the evolution of the energy market by advancing over 52 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy since 2014.
"Beyond the Megawatt embodies the priorities of a growing coalition of voices focused on maximizing scale and impact of energy procurement. There has never been a better time to craft bold, innovative solutions for the benefit of all," said Miranda Ballentine, CEO of CEBI. "Energy customers are raising the industry standard and leading the way for their peers."
Beyond the Megawatt aims to unite and amplify existing efforts for the benefit of people and planet across three key energy system pillars:
- Resilience: Engaging large energy customers to create energy procurement processes that enhance energy security and resilience to meet the needs of an economy rapidly undergoing electrification, and an outdated power grid vulnerable to 21st century threats.
- Equity: Engaging large energy customers and communities to create energy procurement processes in which clean energy resources are designed, built, and delivered with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
- Environmentally Sustainable: Engaging large energy customers and conservation stakeholders to create energy procurement processes that minimize harm and maximize benefits for the environment and biodiversity.
- Each pillar of the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative will cultivate diverse working groups consisting of key energy industry stakeholders, including energy customers, procurement partners, and sustainability experts. The diverse coalition of voices will evaluate, foster, and advance solutions to maximize impact through clean energy procurement, while enabling an environment for customer-driven clean energy for all.
CEBI’s Beyond the Megawatt Initiative has been made possible by generous contributions of its Foundational Funders, including Johnson & Johnson, Salesforce, Amazon, Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC), General Motors, First Solar, Walmart, and Workday. CEBI also works with Groundswell, a community power non-profit, to explore how energy customer procurement can generate co-benefits for local communities.
