Rural Energy Academy
NACo’s Rural Energy Academy empowers county leaders with information and support to make energy decisions that work best for their communities. Rising energy demand, technological advances, changes in federal policy and increased attention on rural areas with advantageous wind, solar and land resources has created a meet-the-moment opportunity for rural counties interested in exploring or expanding their energy potential.
In 2026, NACo’s Rural Energy Academy will focus on helping rural county leaders navigate development and siting of wind, solar, battery storage and data centers and whether they are right for their residents, economies and natural resources. In partnership with the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), this initiative supports rural counties by providing:
- Energizing Counties Resource Hub - resources tailored to county considerations
- Energy Counties Exchange - a virtual community platform for peer engagement
- Peer Exchange - site visits to rural energy communities
- Technical Assistance - individual and group-based technical assistance to solve a local challenge
2026 Program Calendar
- February- May
- February 22- May 28- Rural Energy Academy technical assistance cohort
- June- July:
- June 29- July 1- Rural Energy Academy peer exchange event focused on nuclear and battery energy storage systems
- August:
- August 11- Data center session on tax and agreement economic considerations
- August 27- Data center session on energy and water resource considerations
- September:
- September 8- Data center session on siting and decommissioning lifecycle considerations
- September 23-25- NACo Energy Symposium September. View the event page here.
- December:
- December 16-18- Rural Energy Academy peer exchange event focused on data centers. Indicate your interest here.
Peer Learning
2026 NACo Data Center Peer Exchange in Dorchester County, South Carolina (December 16-18)
Two-day event focused on understanding the challenges and opportunities of data centers.
Applications will open two months prior to the event. In the meantime, complete this form to indicate interest and receive updates on how you can participate.
In December 2025, NACo co-hosted the first Rural Energy Academy peer exchange with Gilliam, Wasco and Sherman Counties, Oregon. These agricultural counties on the Columbia Plateau have decades of experience navigating the complexities of siting wind energy projects while reaping local benefits and are applying lessons learned to emerging solar projects and engagement with local data centers. This immersive one-and-a-half-day event blends peer learning, expert insights and tours of energy projects. Key themes explored:
- Siting and permitting of wind and solar
- Energy generation economics and workforce training
- Data centers
- Community benefits
- Community and developer engagement
In June and July of 2026, NACo co-hosted a Rural Energy Academy peer exchange with Grundy County, Illinois. Home to the Dresden Generating Station, one of the nation's earliest privately financed nuclear power plants, Grundy County offered a fitting setting for a program focused on nuclear energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS). This immersive two-and-a-half-day event blended peer learning, expert insights from Argonne National Laboratory and a tour of an operating nuclear facility. Key themes explored:
- Battery energy storage system (BESS) science and safety
- Nuclear energy and small modular reactors
- Economic development and community benefits
- Strategies to maximize county authority
- State and federal energy policy
Join NACo’s Energy Counties Exchange
NACo’s Energy Counties Exchange is an online community platform that connects county leaders with energy tools, resources and a community of peers focused on addressing the opportunities and challenges of clean energy at a county level. To access this community and all REA programming updates, sign up here:
If you are already a member of the exchange, click here to access the platform
Energy Counties Exchange
Conference
2026 NACo Energy Symposium
Join county leaders from across the country in the Texas Panhandle to engage with the most pressing energy issues shaping rural America today. Hear from experts, exchange ideas with peers and gain practical insights into the policies, projects and partnerships driving rural energy development.
Technical Assistance
Individual Technical Assistance
To learn 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.
Cohort-based Technical Assistance
Applications to join the 2026 Rural Energy Academy technical assistance cohort are now closed.
This program convenes rural leaders for a three-month technical assistance sprint to help counties navigate energy-related challenges based on their community’s unique resources and priorities. In partnership with Mana Group Consulting, this program provides counties with synchronous and asynchronous learning, one-on-one technical assistance and peer learning.
For individual technical assistance, please complete the contact form above at any time. Learn about upcoming peer exchange and how to access more resources here.
The first Rural Energy Academy (REA) Technical Assistance Cohort was launched at the 2026 Legislative Conference. The cohort will run from Feb. 23- May 28 and is focused on supporting these12 counties in achieving energy development goals.
- Apache County, Ariz.
- Beaverhead County, Mont.
- Botetourt County, Va.
- Chaves County, N.M.
- Colusa County, Calif.
- Cortland County, N.Y.
- Grant County, Wash.
- Jack County, Texas
- Lyon County, NV
- Marathon County, Wis.
- Morrow County, Ore.
- Tom Green County, Texas
Related Resources & Initiatives
Energizing Counties Resource Hub
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.
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.
Project Contacts
Blake Gardiner
Padma Kasthurirangan
Jennifer Jenkins
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Intended Use
This content is intended for educational purposes only. The National Association of Counties (NACo) supports policies and programs that equip county governments with the resources and flexibility needed to serve our residents. NACo does not endorse any particular strategy or approach shared in this resource over another. For official NACo positions, please refer to the American County Platform.