2024 Impact Report
Our Vision
BEI envisions a future where buildings are healthy, safe, resilient, and fossil fuel-free. As a result, our air will be cleaner, housing will be more affordable, and our communities will be healthier. The transition will create good local jobs for those who need them most, and the benefits will be shared equitably among all.
Cities are uniquely positioned to advance climate action. As the level of government “closest to the people,” they are fertile ground for innovation on climate solutions. BEI equips local governments and partners with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to accelerate building electrification. We drive change at scale by swiftly translating cutting-edge best practices to spur state, regional, and national progress toward fossil fuel-free buildings.
We Are at a Critical Moment
At a time when the federal government is undermining our democratic institutions, local governments can strengthen democracy and continue to lead climate action. Community co-creation builds trust in government by giving citizens a hand in shaping the programs and policies that affect their lives. It builds democratic capacity by empowering individuals to productively engage with government and create a shared vision for the future. Through their efforts to co-create durable and effective climate policies, local governments can lead over the next four years to strengthen and preserve democracy across the country.
BEI Impact
at a Glance
When BEI launched in 2018, no U.S. city or state had seriously pursued building electrification. Today, over 100 cities and a dozen states are forging ahead with building electrification efforts.
Details on individual projects can be found in our 2024 Impact Tracker below
Our Partner Cities
In light of the 2024 election, progress at the local level will be critical. Cities remain committed to equitable climate action and will play an essential role protecting and sustaining gains made over the last four years.
Cities are catalysts for change because they are:
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Cities can innovate quickly, pilot new solutions, take risks, and identify successful models that can be replicated elsewhere.
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Cities are the level of government closest to the people, uniquely positioned to ensure policies and programs benefit the communities that need the most support.
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Leading cities can advocate for the successful, proof-of-concept models they pilot, bringing them to the state and federal levels and calling for a more democratic and progressive vision across the country.
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Democracy is participatory, inclusive, and under threat. When cities co-create solutions with communities, democratic capacity and trust in government is strengthened and preserved.
Looking Forward
Our work has prepared us for this moment. Cities have always been where innovative solutions originate, then spread geographically and through learning networks. Billions in already-disbursed federal funding remain in play, alongside continued funding from state, local, and utility sources. Local governments are refusing to cede ground to fossil fuel interests and unfounded attacks on their authority to protect residents from climate harm. They are continuing to plan for an equitable transition away from fossil fuels. For our part, BEI remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing progress at the local, regional, and state levels, where transformative change continues.
2024 showed us the power of durable coalitions. By bringing together diverse stakeholders around policies that deliver multiple community benefits – from healthier homes and cleaner air to new economic opportunities and high-road jobs – we're building support that transcends political shifts. With equity as our North Star, we'll continue to advance ambitious climate action where it matters most: in communities across America.
