RMI

RMI RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

RMI, formerly Rocky Mountain Institute, transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a prosperous, resilient, clean energy future for all. RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s m

ost critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030.

London Climate Action Week is bringing investors, policymakers, and climate leaders together to discuss how to scale cli...
06/19/2026

London Climate Action Week is bringing investors, policymakers, and climate leaders together to discuss how to scale climate finance ahead of COP31.

As these world leaders gather, one question is becoming harder to ignore: If capital for climate action is growing, why do so many projects never reach financing?

Analysis from RMI and the NDC Partnership highlights why early-stage project preparation deserves greater attention. Project preparation facilities and technical assistance can help transform climate commitments into finance-ready opportunities, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies.

If we want climate finance to flow at the scale needed, strengthening early-stage project development must be part of the conversation.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/UbQq50ZeJmo

06/18/2026

As more drivers make the switch to electric vehicles, cities are finding new ways to make charging more convenient and accessible, especially for individuals that cannot easily charge at home.

Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a prime example of a city expanding charging infrastructure at the curb. The video below shows what curbside charging infrastructure looks like in Saint Paul, and how the city is responding to local needs to create more convenient charging options for drivers.

Expanding charging access where people live is key to helping more drivers make the switch to electric transportation. Cities across the country are demonstrating how collaboration and thoughtful planning can help make EV charging more accessible, convenient, and equitable.

RMI's latest article highlights how cities are working to increase curbside charging through partnerships with utilities, community organizations, and mobility providers.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/uRHn50ZerJL

Five years ago, RMI launched the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) with a simple idea: place climate finance experti...
06/18/2026

Five years ago, RMI launched the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) with a simple idea: place climate finance expertise where it is needed most.

Today, that idea has grown into a network of embedded advisors helping countries access funding for projects that strengthen resilience, improve access to essential services, and support sustainable development.

The results speak for themselves. What began with a $7 million grant has grown into a $2.6 billion pipeline of climate infrastructure projects and proposals. Sixteen embedded advisors are now working across the Pacific and Caribbean, supporting projects that range from early warning systems and clean energy to water security and resilient infrastructure.

Behind every project is a local priority, a community need, and a country working to build a stronger future.

Read the full story of CFAN's impact over the past five years: https://ow.ly/j9Je50ZeiHP

Hosting clean energy on “brownfields” — often neglected, previously disturbed, and contaminated lands — creates “brightf...
06/17/2026

Hosting clean energy on “brownfields” — often neglected, previously disturbed, and contaminated lands — creates “brightfields” that reuse land, help meet states’ growing energy needs, and reinvest in communities.

While solar and wind are among the most cost-effective sources of new electricity, challenges for deployment remain in the form of siting constraints, permitting delays, interconnection challenges, and competing land-use priorities.

States can prioritize contaminated land for solar and wind development to reduce challenges by implementing policies that support brightfields: https://ow.ly/9MbY50ZcSHE

As more EVs hit the road, utilities need to decide when and where to invest in grid upgrades. Move too slowly and chargi...
06/16/2026

As more EVs hit the road, utilities need to decide when and where to invest in grid upgrades. Move too slowly and charging deployment can stall. Move too quickly and customers may end up paying for infrastructure before it's needed.

Building out the grid in the right places – and at the right pace – can help to drive cost savings for all customers. Our latest article explores how utilities can make targeted, proactive investments in grid infrastructure based on improved forecasts of where EV charging demand is most likely to grow.

The analysis highlights how other strategies, like managed EV charging, can help utilities reduce grid costs and better utilize existing infrastructure. It also shows how regulatory tools, such as cost allocation and cost recovery mechanisms, can serve as important guardrails to help ensure the benefits of EVs are realized without exposing customers to unreasonable costs and risks.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/VH4B50Zco9R

As the carbon removal community heads into London Climate Action Week, one question likely to come up again and again is...
06/16/2026

As the carbon removal community heads into London Climate Action Week, one question likely to come up again and again is about durability, or how long carbon represented by a credit remains in the atmosphere. How do we enable the full range of carbon removal pathways to contribute while ensuring that every credit delivers the climate impact it promises?

RMI, Beyond Alliance, and American Forest Foundation created a new framework called “contracted durability” to help policymakers and standard setters answer this question. “Contracted durability” ensures that:
1️⃣ Someone remains responsible if stored carbon is released (e.g., through a forest fire or land-use change), and
2️⃣ There is a clear mechanism to replace the lost climate benefit.

As net-zero expectations continue to evolve, durability may become one of the most important factors in determining carbon removal credit quality.

🔗 Read the paper to learn more https://ow.ly/UZYg50Zc7HY

06/15/2026

Start spreadin’ the news: retrofitting buildings can save energy and money.

The Empire State Building has stood sentinel over the city that doesn’t sleep for almost a century. When it came time to update this icon of the skyline in the late 2000s, Empire State Realty Trust approached RMI for help. Through deep retrofits and a whole-systems approach, including remanufacturing over 6,500 windows on site and right-sizing the cooling systems, they saved $17 million and reduced energy consumption by over 50%.

If they can make it happen there, it can happen anywhere. Learn more about how to retrofit large buildings: https://ow.ly/JEKP50ZbX1f

Heat pumps are one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool buildings because they move heat (from air, water, or the...
06/11/2026

Heat pumps are one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool buildings because they move heat (from air, water, or the ground) to where it’s needed, rather than create new heat. They can dramatically cut pollution and help replace fossil fuels in buildings, making them vital to the clean energy transition.

But don’t just take our word for it: the data speaks for itself! We recently updated our heat pump and water heater market tracker covering the United States, and heat pump sales are on the rise.

🟩 If you think a heat pump might be right for you, check out this recent USA TODAY guide for US homeowners to learn more https://ow.ly/MwBW50ZaHKM

🟦 And explore our tracker here: https://ow.ly/cgwM50ZaHKL

As electric vehicles (EVs) hit the road in growing numbers, utilities face a new challenge: figuring out when, where, an...
06/10/2026

As electric vehicles (EVs) hit the road in growing numbers, utilities face a new challenge: figuring out when, where, and how much charging demand will show up on the grid.

Utilities use load forecasts to decide where to invest in transformers, substations, power lines, and other grid infrastructure. Those decisions directly affect reliability and customer costs.

Traditional forecasting methods were not designed for large, fast moving, highly localized demand, like that created by EVs. A fleet charging depot or a cluster of new chargers can change electricity demand in ways utilities need to plan for much earlier and more precisely than they have had to in the past.

Our latest article explores how EV load forecasting is evolving, what better forecasting looks like, and how improved planning can support a more reliable and affordable electric system. Tools like RMI’s GridUp platform allow users to explore how charging loads add up at different geographic levels and how this may affect utility planning.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/7fLk50ZabwW

The global energy landscape is changing, presenting an opportunity to review and rethink planned investments in the powe...
06/09/2026

The global energy landscape is changing, presenting an opportunity to review and rethink planned investments in the power sector.

Changes in demand, falling technology costs, and grid infrastructure needs have fundamentally altered what investments are necessary, efficient, and prudent. Due to recent geopolitical changes and supply chain challenges, questions have arisen regarding whether previously planned electricity generation projects that rely on fossil fuel imports are still the right choice, especially considering these plants may operate into the 2060s or longer and could become cost burdens.

RMI’s framework can help power sector leaders to evaluate planned power plants and assess alternatives to deliver affordable, reliable, and secure power that strengthens their countries’ economic competitiveness now and for decades to come: https://ow.ly/p3HK50Z9y6V

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