Affordability is not just a consumer issue; it is a system design challenge. Many rising costs stem from outdated planning approaches that prioritize infrastructure expansion over efficiency, flexibility, and customer participation. Addressing this challenge requires more than a single policy or technology. It demands a coordinated, practical approach that puts affordability at the center of energy decision-making. By elevating policies that reduce peak demand, extend the life of existing assets, and empower customers to play an active role in the grid, states can avoid unnecessary spending before it reaches utility bills.

In times of uncertainty, the Ramsey family believes flexibility and trust are not just helpful — they are essential. As long-time supporters of RMI through their foundation, the Rudy and Alice Ramsey Foundation, the family typically gives targeted project support that drives innovation.

Recognizing that many of the trusted nonprofit partners they support are navigating a complex and rapidly changing environment, this year, they made a deliberate shift. Two generations of Ramseys unanimously agreed that long-term progress depends on strong, resilient institutions and, in this moment, unrestricted support mattered most. They believe those closest to the work are best positioned to determine how resources can sustain momentum and maximize impact, saying, “Providing flexible funding allows organizations like RMI to stay focused, adapt as needed, and continue delivering the results that drew us to them in the first place.”

As data centers spread, communities face real risks to energy reliability and affordability. RMI’s Lightening the Load report shows how local leaders can meet rising demand with clean energy solutions, from on-site solar and batteries to community resilience hubs and fair large-load tariffs. Communities from the South to the Southwest are using the report’s insights to inform decisionmaking on data centers.

RMI’s Caribbean Regional Transition Scenario shows how island nations can move toward 100 percent renewable energy together by centering the region’s abundant solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro resources. By employing modern technologies and smart policies, the scenario charts a unified path away from costly fossil fuel imports and aging diesel systems, toward affordable, reliable power that strengthens energy security across the region.

RMI’s Charting a Circular Battery Future in India report is shaping the global conversation on clean energy and mineral security. The research sparked an Associated Press feature highlighting how recycling and reusing batteries could create more than 100,000 jobs, meet nearly 40 percent of India’s mineral needs, and unlock a ~$9 billion market opportunity. It’s proof that smart circularity can power economic growth and climate progress, together.

Reaching gigaton-scale carbon removal by midcentury will require roughly $20 billion a year by 2035 — far more than today’s markets can deliver. In a new discussion paper, RMI shows how a government-led advance market commitment could close critical funding gaps, accelerate scale, and give governments a powerful tool to shape a durable, high-integrity carbon removal market.

Industrial electrification can deliver more than simple cost savings — but traditional analyses often miss its full value. RMI and Schneider Electric’s new Integrated Net Present Value (iNPV) framework helps decision makers quantify the broader benefits of electrification and automation, from operational flexibility and risk reduction to market differentiation. By capturing these hidden value streams, the iNPV framework equips companies to make smarter, more forward-looking investment decisions.

Heavy industry sits at the core of the global economy and at the center of the net-zero challenge. Cement, steel, and chemicals are essential to modern life, yet together they account for a significant share of global emissions. Through Third Derivative, RMI’s climate tech accelerator, we are helping transform these sectors by supporting startups that rethink how the materials that underpin modern life are made and proving that decarbonization and competitiveness go hand in hand.