Energizing Counties Resource Hub
America’s counties are home to a wide variety of natural primary sources of energy. A diverse portfolio of electrical energy production is essential to America’s leadership in every field from health care to advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence. Technological advances in solar, wind and nuclear energy have unleashed energy potential that was previously limited to counties with large coal or natural gas reserves. County governments regulate energy development through permitting, land use planning, community engagement and more. Counties today are supporting the build-out of electrical infrastructure that will energize the nation for generations to come.
NACo empowers counties with the tools and resources needed to consider and facilitate energy projects best suited for local communities. NACo is developing resources and tailored guidance to assist local governments in navigating the opportunities and challenges of different energy industries.
Energy Counties Exchange
NACo's Energy Counties Exchange is an information sharing platform for county leaders to discuss local challenges and solutions at work in America’s energy counties. Join today to connect with a community of peers, share local ordinances and insights on energy production and receive updates on NACo research, resources and activities focused on energy generation at the local level.
The County Energy Perspective
Energy Technologies and Siting Considerations: Electricity
As part of the National Association of County’s series on county considerations for energy technologies and siting energy projects, this primer provides a plain-language overview of energy and electricity consumption, generation, transmission.
NACo Informational Primer and County Considerations: Data Centers
As part of the NACo's series on county considerations for energy technologies and siting energy projects, this primer provides a plain-language overview of data centers and serves as a foundational resource for understanding important planning considerations.
Energy Technologies and Siting Considerations: Solar Energy
As part of the NACo's series on county considerations for energy technologies and siting energy projects, this primer provides a plain-language overview of solar PV technology and serves as a foundational resource for understanding solar energy project types and important planning considerations.
Energy Technologies and Siting Considerations: Wind Energy
As part of the NACo's series on county considerations for siting energy projects, this primer provides a plain-language overview of wind energy technology and serves as a foundational resource for understanding wind energy project types and important planning considerations.
County Energy Explorer
View the interactive map of wind energy projects in full screen. Click here to access the maps for other energy technology types on NACo's County Explorer, including coal production, plants and mines; solar energy production and plants; and battery storage power plants.
Technical Assistance
Individual Technical Assistance
To explore how the Rural Energy Academy can support you and your team complete this contact form to connect with NACo staff and experienced partners from Mana Group Consulting
Rural Energy Academy Technical Assistance Cohort (Closed)
Applications to join the 2026 Rural Energy Academy technical assistance cohort are now closed. Stay informed on upcoming NACo energy programming and resources by joining the Energy Counties Exchange
NACo's Rural Energy Academy (REA) offers a technical assistance cohort opportunity for rural counties navigating wind, solar and/or BESS development. Participants will receive facilitated learning sessions with subject matter experts, peer engagement and one-on-one technical assistance to produce county-driven deliverables for local implementation.
Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities
The Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities initiative connected coal communities, supported local leaders and built capacity in under-resourced communities to advance new approaches and projects for economic diversification.
SolSmart
SolSmart is a national program that helps cities, towns, counties and regional organizations become solar energy ready.
Rural Energy Academy
Future Opportunities:
Join the Energy Counties Exchange to stay informed on all energy resources and upcoming programming including one energy focused peer exchange events in June and one data center peer exchange in November. Applications open approximately two months prior to the event.
Recent Opportunity:
NACo's first Rural Energy Academy (REA) technical assistance cohort launches in Spring 2026. Applications to join are now closed. Learn how REA can still support your county by completing this form to connect with NACo staff and program partners from Mana Group Consulting.
Program Contacts
Blake Gardiner
Padma Kasthurirangan
Related News
NACo launches 2026 Rural Energy Academy Cohort to support county decision-making on new energy projects
NACo announces the launch of the 2026 Rural Energy Academy technical assistance cohort.
U.S. Department of the Interior issues new NEPA regulations recognizing local governments as cooperating agencies
On February 23, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a final rule updating the Department’s regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; P.L. 91-190). In a step forward for counties, the final rule reinstates provisions that name local government agencies as cooperating agencies during the NEPA environmental review process.
House Agriculture Committee advances 2026 Farm Bill
On March 5, the House Agriculture Committee voted to advance its version of the 2026 Farm Bill.