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RMI’s Guide to Federal Clean Energy Incentives

The Great Green Rush is underway, as companies, governments, and individuals race to cash in on unprecedented funding, policies, and incentives that are supercharging America’s transition to clean energy.

On this page, RMI rounds up our growing body of research, analysis, and policy roadmaps to better understand and tap into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and related federal policies and incentives.

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The Opportunity: Unprecedented federal investments

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the greatest investment in US economic growth and climate action in our lifetimes. With the passage of the IRA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA), there’s never been more federal funding available to kickstart clean energy projects. This unprecedented opportunity is accelerating the transition to clean energy not just at home — it’s spurring a race to the top globally.

The potential benefits of these investments are huge: economy-wide development and investment, pollution reduction and health benefits, job creation, progress toward climate goals, and more. The IRA also has equity-focused incentives designed to benefit low-income, energy, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, which will make the energy transition more prosperous for all.

And yet, the very scale and complexity of these incentives are so vast, they can slow adoption at a time when urgency is high, and entities have a strong incentive to act quickly. We’ve broken down the opportunities to help you understand which parts you can take advantage of and how.

The opportunities are enormous, but the clock is ticking: Many of the IRA’s most lucrative benefits will expire by 2032, and some much sooner. Explore the opportunity below.

Congress’s Climate Triple Whammy: Innovation, Investment, and Industrial Policy

The Inflation Reduction along with the IIJA and CHIPS and Science Act will help the US build out a robust clean energy industry and tackle climate change.
The Economic Tides Just Turned for States

RMI uncovers the surprising, transformative benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and clean energy for US states.
To see more Opportunity resources, filter the resources below by the Opportunity tag.
The Key: Effective implementation

With federal funding available, it's now up to state and local policymakers, businesses, nonprofits, utilities, and everyday consumers to pursue and implement the IRA by seizing the opportunity for themselves. Our analysis shows that the faster and more completely that organizations and individuals tap into federal clean energy incentives, the more benefits they will see.

The details of implementation matter: the timing of investments, which technologies are prioritized, what complementary policies are passed, how programs are rolled out, which organizations and individuals participate, and more. There is a wide range of potential benefits from these investments and effective implementation will ensure the most is made of the opportunity.

Rapid, widespread, and effective state and local implementation of the IRA are key to maximizing its benefits across the economy, health, and climate. We've assembled information and guidance on how to effectively pursue and apply IRA investments across multiple programs, recipients, and economic sectors.

Unlocking the IRA: Six Key Opportunities for State Policymakers

How states can capitalize on historic climate and clean energy funds.
To Harness Cleantech Opportunities, Economic Development Organizations Need to Think Big

With trillions of dollars of federal and private investment on the line, the stakes are high for states and regions looking to attract investment in cleantech industries.

What Utility Regulators Need to Know about the IRA

The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment to date to modernize the US energy system, and regulators have a role to play in its implementation.
Gaps and Barriers to Stacking Federal, State, and Local Incentives

When combined with state, utility, and local incentives, the home energy incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act can make decarbonizing households more affordable and feasible for all.
To see more Implementation resources, filter the resources below by the Implementation tag.
The Results: Success stories are already being realized

The good news is that many states, cities, businesses, and other stakeholders are already accessing this funding and building out clean energy projects. This provides case studies and examples others can follow.

While some funding guidance is still being rolled out, projects that were in the pipeline are already benefiting and new projects are seeing their design, development, and deployment speed up. The time to act is now: Funding is available, and projects can take months or years to be planned, approved, and come online.

As they develop, we are collecting case studies and examples of successful IRA implementation.

What Happens When Utilities Start to Integrate the IRA into Planning?

When utilities integrate the Inflation Reduction Act into their planning, the future looks a lot brighter.
Back to School, with Electric Buses

Going back to school with clean, electric school buses means healthier kids and less pollution
4 Communities Embrace Clean Energy Incentives

Four communities in North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio are already taking advantage of clean energy federal incentives.

To see more Success Stories resources, filter the resources below by the Success Stories tag.
Key Tools
Decarbonizing Industry Resource Tool (DIRT)

Get the DIRT on industrial decarbonization incentives
AFFORD

Find, compare, and prioritize funding options with the America’s Federal Funding Opportunities and Resources for Decarbonization tool
Clean Growth Toolkit

Evaluate feasible clean energy and cleantech industries for your metro area
Energy Policy Simulator

Estimate the environmental, economic, and health impacts of hundreds of climate and energy policies
State Scorecards

See where 20 different states stand on climate progress

America Is All In Federal Funding Hub

Keep up to date with federal funding opportunities and deadlines
State Clean Energy Economy Opportunity

Envision how 22 states can produce and use more clean power
eLab Accelerator: Financing the Shift to Clean Energy

Build competitive and ambitious clean energy project applications that can unlock billions of dollars of federal resources with the help of our experts
All IRA Resources
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US Policy

AFFORD Tool

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Find, compare, and prioritize funding options with the America’s Federal Funding Opportunities and Resources for Decarbonization tool…

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