Energizing Counties Resource Hub
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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.
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.
Peer Exchange
2026 NACo Data Center Peer Exchange
December 14–16 | Dorchester County, S.C.
Applications for NACo's Data Center Peer Exchange are closed.
Stay tuned for future opportunities through NACo's Rural Energy Academy.
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 Authority: Energy Siting
America runs increasingly on electricity, and counties are at the center of making that possible. This video breaks down the county role in energy siting and permitting. Learn how counties at every level of authority can shape energy development, support communities and maximize local benefits.
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: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
As part of the NACo's series on county considerations for siting energy projects, this primer provides a plain-language overview of battery energy storage system (BESS) technology and serves as a foundational resource for understanding BESS project types and 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 County Energy Profiles which contains custom data on energy consumption, usage, and generation. 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
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.
Related Initiatives
Rural Energy Academy
Stay engaged with NACo's energy resources and events such as the fall NACo's 2026 Energy Symposium (Sept. 23-25) and the NACo's 2026 Data Center Peer Exchange (December), by joining the Energy Counties Exchange.
Data Centers Resource Hub
As local authority shapes decisions on permitting, infrastructure planning and community engagement for data centers, this dynamic hub turns ideas into practice across key areas, giving county leaders practical tools to support local decision making around development and long-term economic growth.
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.
U.S. Senators introduce bipartisan comprehensive permitting reform package with major county wins
On Sep. 30, the leaders of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653), a comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform package that would make major changes to several federal environmental protection statutes.
Foundations navigate community benefit agreements
Philanthropic organizations offer a specialized approach to managing proceeds from community benefit agreements struck between counties and energy companies.
Texas symposium spurs energy talks
The road to domestic energy independence will be paved and maintained by counties, and more than 100 county leaders came to the Texas panhandle to learn how to make the most of the opportunity.
Public lands offer potential for boosting energy generation
Oil and gas leases on public lands have opened the door for renewables like solar and wind to double dip on energy productions, sweetening the deal for counties.
