Energizing Counties Resource Hub
Upcoming Events
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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.
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.
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
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.
Related Initiatives
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
Stay engaged with NACo's energy resources and events such as the fall Energy Symposium (Sept. 23-25) and the data center peer exchange (December), by joining the Energy Counties Exchange.
U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Member introduces legislation to protect ratepayers from costs of data center expansion
On August 3, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Guarding Ratepayers from Increased Demand-costs (GRID) Savings Act of 2026. The proposed legislation would create a process for large electricity users to pay for any infrastructure costs associated with increased demand for the electric grid.
Senate Agriculture Committee holds Farm Bill markup, remains in committee
On August 6, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee held a markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026, the Senate's version of the 2026 Farm Bill.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency releases new guidelines for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act
On June 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule updating its implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The updated rule follows EO 14154, Unleashing American Energy, and the Seven County Infrastructure v. Eagle County, Colo. decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Senate begins reauthorization process for State Revolving Fund programs and other water infrastructure programs
On July 13, leaders of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee released the text of its Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026). In addition to reauthorizing major projects through the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers (Army Corps), the bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs.
U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee advances 2026 Water Resources Development Act
On July 14, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee favorably reported H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) by a bipartisan 66-0 vote. The bill now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives. The WRDA 2026 markup was originally scheduled for July 1 but was rescheduled to July 14 due to changes to the House calendar.
Economic Considerations for Data Centers: Understanding Revenue, Risk and Long-Term Value
As the first webinar in NACo's Fall Data Center Webinar Series, this session will provide county officials with a foundation for understanding data center development before exploring the fiscal and economic considerations counties face.
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.
Resource
Data Centers Resource Hub
NACo’s Data Center Resource Hub provides counties with a collection of strategies and resources to strengthen our approach to data center development and oversight. 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.
Program Contacts
Blake Gardiner
