RMI Launches New Energy Works to Connect Economic Development and Energy Leaders in the United States

Boulder, CO – Oct 22, 2026 — Today, RMI announced the launch of New Energy Works (NEW), a national community of practice bringing together economic development and state and local energy leaders to grow new energy technologies in the United States and strengthen local economies.

As investment in the global energy system accelerates, communities have significant opportunities to attract new businesses, create jobs, and strengthen domestic supply chains. Yet economic development leaders often lack the timely information and energy-sector expertise needed to identify emerging opportunities, evaluate which ones fit their regions, and mobilize the partners needed to act.

New Energy Works is designed to help bridge that gap.

Through targeted learning and facilitated peer networking, the community will connect state, regional, and local economic development and energy leaders with practical insights, case studies, analytic expertise, and one another. The goal is to help practitioners better identify, evaluate, and act on opportunities to bring energy-related investment to American communities.

“Economic development leaders are on the front lines of deciding where and how the next generation of American industry takes root,” said Aaron Brickman, senior principal of economic development at RMI. “New Energy Works is about giving these leaders the information, relationships, and practical tools they need to recognize emerging opportunities and translate them into lasting economic benefits for their communities.”

The official kickoff webinar will address “The American New Energy Economy After the Midterms” on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Join us to learn more about the outlook for economic development opportunity from advanced energy technology in the United States in the wake of the midterm elections.

How It Works

Membership in New Energy Works is open to all, particularly those working in economic development, energy policy, and energy systems planning at the state, regional, and local levels. If interested, you can sign up here to join the community and access upcoming programming.

New Energy Works will offer monthly virtual learning sessions, targeted learning, peer exchange opportunities, and occasional in-person workshops, drawing on experts and practitioners from across the country.

The community builds on a series of RMI webinars and discussions held throughout 2026 with economic development organizations, energy policy leaders, analytic partners, and regional practitioners. These include:

• Unlocking Electro-Industrial Growth to Meet Surging Electricity Demand: Modeling Policy Options in the Southeast, with Rhodium Group
• Next-Generation Geothermal: The Regional Economic Opportunity, featuring Rhodium Group and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
• Assessing State and Local Incentives for Attracting New Energy Investment, with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and featuring the Greater Phoenix Economic Council
• Advanced Industrial Zones to Bolster Regional Economic Development, featuring Advanced Industrial Zones, the Greater MSP Partnership, and the Cleveland Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund

Looking Ahead

Here is a complete list of New Energy Works-affiliated programming with future dates and topics forthcoming:

• Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET – Capital Meets Capacity: How Green Banks and Economic Development Organizations Can Power the Electro-Industrial Economy

• Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET – KICKOFF: The American New Energy Economy After the Midterms: Market, Federal, and State Trends to Watch in 2027

• Tuesday, December 15, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET – Topic to be announced

• Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 2:00 p.m. ET – Topic to be announced

For additional information, contact econdev@rmi.org or visit rmi.org/economic-development.