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.
Peer Exchange
2026 NACo Spring Peer Exchange
Grundy County, Illinois: June 29- July 1
Apply now to NACo's Spring 2026 Rural Energy Academy Peer Exchange. This is a one-and-a-half-day event for county leaders to learn more about nuclear and battery energy storage systems (BESS) technologies and their growing role in the larger energy discussion. Programming will include peer discussions, mobile tours and classroom learning covering related topics including economic development, community engagement, and safety considerations.
View the application information sheet below to learn more and apply!
Conference
2026 NACo Energy Symposium
Registration opening April 14: 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 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
Current Opportunities:
Spring Peer Exchange: Apply now to participate in NACo's Rural Energy Academy Peer Exchange in Grundy County, Ill. from June 29-July 30, 2026. This event will highlight the opportunities and challenges related to nuclear and battery energy storage system (BESS) technologies.
Fall Symposium: Learn how you can join county leaders from across the country in the Texas Panhandle for the 2026 NACo Energy Symposium. This event will be held from September 23-25, 2026 and will cover the most pressing energy issues shaping rural America.
Recent Opportunity:
NACo's first Rural Energy Academy (REA) technical assistance cohort launched 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. Join the Energy Counties Exchange to stay informed on all energy resources.
Program Contacts
Blake Gardiner
Padma Kasthurirangan
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