November 2014: The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Regions of Climate Action (R20) have formed a partnership that will expand the organizations’ assistance on the development and implementation of clean energy policies. The partnership will also enhance NREL’s and R20’s collaboration with the Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS) Global Partnership.

Through the partnership, NREL and R20 will expand assistance offered through the NREL’s Clean Energy Solutions Center ‘Ask an Expert’ service. The service has assisted over 70 countries and regional organizations in developing and implementing clean energy policies. The Center is now prioritizing extending its services to sub-national governments. R20 works with sub-national governments around the world to design low-carbon and climate-resilient economic development projects.

R20 Executive Director Christophe Nuttall, said R20’s partnership with the Clean Energy Solutions Center would help R20 raise “awareness among national and sub-national politicians of the long-term political, technical and financial solutions for a sustainable safe, clean economy.” He also highlighted the partnership’s role in helping sub-national governments in the network to attain their clean energy goals.

R20 is a non-profit organization founded by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the UN in 2010. It focuses on collaboration with regional networks to promote sustainable local economies and catalyze local actions with economic and environmental benefits. The LEDS Global Partnership consists of 140 governmental and international institutions working together to advance low-emission development strategies. [Clean Energy Solutions Center Press Release] [R20 Website]