Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act - Summer

Team Members: Alexa Lorillard, Tanishka Sachidanand, Anna Mahowald, Blake Carroll, Caleb Smith, Jake Lessick, Jordan Shenhar, Julia Saffer-D’Anna, Kevin Loo, Srishti Mahajan, Suxin Yan, Yaritza Anguiano, Zhechen Wu

Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires large-scale investment in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and emerging clean technologies. Fossil fuel combustion remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, contributing to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and adverse public health outcomes. Emissions drive rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increasing frequency of extreme weather events, which threaten food security, economic stability, and human wellbeing. Communities already facing environmental and economic vulnerabilities are disproportionately exposed to these risks, highlighting the need for equitable climate investment strategies.

The Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act establishes a national financing institution designed to mobilize public and private capital to accelerate clean energy deployment and innovation. Strategic investments in renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and grid modernization significantly reduce emissions while strengthening energy system resilience. Financing mechanisms address market barriers that prevent private investment in early-stage or high-impact climate technologies. Targeting investments toward underserved and climate-impacted communities ensures equitable access to economic and environmental benefits. Performance indicators—including emissions reductions, renewable energy deployment, and infrastructure improvements—provide measurable benchmarks for evaluating success. By leveraging federal investment to catalyze broader market transformation, the Accelerator supports rapid decarbonization, enhances economic competitiveness, and improves environmental and public health outcomes.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.