Highlights from the Year

Big Business Got Greener

With our support, the more than 200 members of RMI’s Business Renewables Center completed deals for 2 gigawatts of new renewables on the U.S. grid in the past year alone, and we’re helping more companies learn how.

The U.S. Proved We Are Still In

After President Trump announced his intent to withdraw the U.S.
from the landmark Paris Agreement, RMI helped bring together a coalition of more than 2,300 U.S. states, cities, businesses, and universities dedicated to continuing strong U.S. climate leadership.

Trucking Fuel-Efficiency Improved

Relying on RMI’s research and reports, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation announced final standards for trucks that are expected to cut CO2 emissions by around 1 billion metric tons, and save vehicle owners $170 billion in fuel costs.

India Leapt Ahead

Indian government and civil society came together around a bold action plan to completely electrify the country’s vehicle fleet by 2030, with the support of the Indian government’s premier think tank, NITI Aayog, and RMI. Our India Leaps Ahead report presented actionable solutions to reach this goal.

Green African American History Museum Opened

The National Museum of African American History & Culture became the newest and most sustainable building in the Smithsonian system on the National Mall. RMI staff advised on the museum’s design from the very beginning and joined President Obama at the opening ceremony.

Innovation Center Won National Recognition

RMI’s beyond net-zero energy Innovation Center became the first building to win both the Passive House Institute U.S.’s 2015+ certification and Source Net Zero certification. It also earned the Living Building Challenge’s Petal Certified and Net-Zero Energy Certified designations.

Energy Web Foundation Launched

Ten global energy companies put up $2.5 million to join forces with RMI and Grid Singularity to launch the Energy Web Foundation, a global blockchain initiative that uses the technology that underlies digital technologies like Bitcoin to revolutionize the energy sector.

Energy Innovation Gained Steam

Fort Collins Efficiency Works Neighborhood program — a pilot program born from a yearlong RMI engagement with the Colorado city’s utility to get more residential homes implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy—received the Energy Innovator Award from the American Public Power Association.