Beyond the Megawatt aims to benefit people and the planet through resilience, equity, and environmental sustainability

Washington, D.C. – (June 1, 2022) – The Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI) launched the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative recently to create a resilient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable energy system for the benefit of all by leveraging energy customer demands for clean energy. Energy customer companies continue to demonstrate their critical role in influencing the evolution of the energy market by advancing over 52 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy since 2014. 

“Beyond the Megawatt embodies the priorities of a growing coalition of voices focused on maximizing scale and impact of energy procurement. There has never been a better time to craft bold, innovative solutions for the benefit of all,” said Miranda Ballentine, CEO of CEBI. “Energy customers are raising the industry standard and leading the way for their peers.”

Beyond the Megawatt aims to unite and amplify existing efforts for the benefit of people and planet across three key energy system pillars:  

• Resilience: Engaging large energy customers to create energy procurement processes that enhance energy security and resilience to meet the needs of an economy rapidly undergoing electrification, and an outdated power grid vulnerable to 21st century threats.
• Equity: Engaging large energy customers and communities to create energy procurement processes in which clean energy resources are designed, built, and delivered with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.  
• Environmentally Sustainable: Engaging large energy customers and conservation stakeholders to create energy procurement processes that minimize harm and maximize benefits for the environment and biodiversity.

Each pillar of the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative will cultivate diverse working groups consisting of key energy industry stakeholders, including energy customers, procurement partners, and sustainability experts. The diverse coalition of voices will evaluate, foster, and advance solutions to maximize impact through clean energy procurement, while enabling an environment for customer-driven clean energy for all. 

CEBI’s Beyond the Megawatt Initiative has been made possible by generous contributions of its Foundational Funders, including Johnson & Johnson, Salesforce, Amazon, Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC), General Motors, First Solar, Walmart, and Workday. CEBI also works with Groundswell, a community power non-profit, to explore how energy customer procurement can generate co-benefits for local communities. 

For more information on how to participate in the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative working group or to learn about funding opportunities, please visit: cebi.org/programs/beyond-the-megawatt or contact communications@cebi.org for more information. 

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Beyond the Megawatt Initiative Foundational Funders:

“Salesforce is proud to be a foundational founder of CEBI’s Beyond the Megawatt Initiative,” said Max Scher, Senior Director of Sustainability, Salesforce. “Companies that purchase renewable energy have an unparalleled opportunity to help shape the industry. CEBI’s work focused on integrating resilience, equity, and environmental sustainability considerations into renewable energy procurements enables companies like Salesforce to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of the transition to clean energy.”

“As the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, Amazon is proud to be a founding member of the Beyond the Megawatt initiative in partnership with the Clean Energy Buyers Institute,” said Kara Hurst, Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon. “We look forward to working within the clean energy industry to promote a just transition through diversity, equity and inclusion, while also ensuring greater energy security, resilience, and biodiversity.”

“Supply chains matter. How we manufacture renewables matters. Buyers have an opportunity and obligation to use our procurement power to create a more sustainable and resilient economy,” said AB Ghosh, Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor. “Solar installations are expected to more than triple in the next decade and more manufacturing will be needed to support this growth. This is our moment to build a cleaner, more secure domestic solar supply chain in an industry where new capacity is required.”

“The General Motors Climate Equity Fund was established to help bring everyone along as the world adapts to climate change,” said Jessica James, senior manager, Climate Equity Fund, General Motors. “We are proud to be a foundational funder of the Beyond the Megawatt equity pillar to help ensure community voices are the cornerstone of an equitable, clean energy future.”

“Responsible procurement practices can play a crucial role in ensuring that the transition to a sustainable energy future is just and equitable and does not come at the price of people or the planet, said Samantha Sloan, Vice President of Policy at First Solar. “First Solar’s support for the Beyond the Megawatt Initiative reflects our commitment to advocating for responsible solar and strengthening resilient clean energy technology supply chains that enhance energy security, economic growth, and the environment.”

“Programs like CEBI’s Beyond the Megawatt Initiative can go a long way in helping decarbonize our energy grid by building momentum for the specific transitions needed to reach zero emissions goals,” said Bruce Harris, VP, Federal Government Affairs, Walmart. “By focusing on maximizing scale and coalition building, we believe the initiative can help build renewable energy systems for the benefit of all.”

About Clean Energy Buyers Institute

The Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI) is a 501c3 public charity that solves the toughest market and policy barriers to achieve a carbon-free energy system. CEBI’s aspiration is to achieve a 90% carbon-free U.S. electricity system by 2030 and a global community of customers driving clean energy. Visit cebi.org for more information.

Media Contacts: 

Marisa Long, marisa@inspireprgroup.com, 412.877.7592
Katie Boyer, katieb@inspireprgroup.com, 740.507.7531