Renewable Energy Transition

Accelerating a Clean and Green Future

View of several wind turbines on a West Virginia ridge top. — West Virginia wind farm Wind farm turbines situated on a ridge top in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. © Kent Mason

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Our Work in the U.S.
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Support a Clean Energy Future

We have no time to waste. Join us in calling for a low-carbon future.

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A transition to renewable energy is good for people and the planet. It will mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve human health and the environment by decreasing air and water pollution, and support jobs and economic development.

Mitigating the impacts of climate change to people and nature requires a rapid global buildout of renewable energy, and we are just at the beginning. We need at least a nine-fold increase in renewable energy production to meet the Paris Agreement goals and much more to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The land-use footprint for this buildout will be enormous because renewable energy infrastructure requires a lot of land —especially onshore wind and large-scale solar installations.

How can we go smart to go fast? Energy development has a long history of environmental impacts, community opposition, and stalled and canceled projects—a history that we cannot afford to repeat in the shift to renewable energy. Accelerating this transition requires a smart buildout, one that safeguards natural areas and socio-cultural values, and supports goals for climate, conservation, and communities.

In the Spotlight

A bright sunrise on the Yellowstone River.

Partnerships

A Brighter Future

We must pursue clean energy transitions by pushing for low conflict, low carbon, low cost development.

Offshore wind turbines at sunset off England's coast.

Report

Clean & Green Pathways for the Global Renewable Energy Buildout

TNC’s influential report highlights six ways for governments, corporations and lenders to promote a clean and green renewable energy buildout.

Sunset with wind turbines in the dusky light.

Tool

Global Clean Energy Potential

Converted lands can provide lower-conflict solutions for new renewable energy installations and our interactive tool shows how.

Photo of water flowing in a Western canyon.

Report

Connected and Flowing

TNC’s report showing a pathway to a renewable future for rivers, climate and people.

The scale of the renewable energy buildout will intensify pressure on lands and waters in ways that could impact communities, ecosystems, and wildlife. Related social and environmental concerns could, in turn, slow the clean energy transition itself. That is why The Nature Conservancy believes that renewable energy buildout must go smart to go fast.

The good news is the world has an abundance of areas with high renewable energy development potential and low biodiversity value—many multiples more than what is needed to meet global climate goals. All 10 of the highest emitting countries have more than enough suitable areas—places like mine lands, brownfields, and marginal farmlands—where renewable energy development could make land assets productive again, support community and economic development, and provide new revenue streams for landowners.

But this will not happen on its own. By taking steps today for a clean and green buildout, the world can meet goals for climate, conservation, and communities.

Tool

Site Wind Right

To help accelerate the deployment of wind energy in a way that helps people and nature thrive, The Nature Conservancy is providing the award-winning Site Wind Right map.

Clean Energy and Wildlife

Our Work in the U.S.

Collaborating for solar on former mine lands in Virginia

One of the first utility-scale solar projects on former surface mines will be developed in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia. See the News Release

Long Island Solar Roadmap

A new report details how to advance clean energy development while safeguarding the places people value most. See Long Island's Opportunities

Wisconsin's Renewable Energy Future

Wisconsin's businesses share challenges and opportunities in the transition to renewable energy. See how Wisconsin is transitioning to clean energy.

Report Recommends Key Steps for Modernizing Maine's Electric Grid

A stakeholder group has issued a set of nine consensus-based recommendations for steps to plan, build, and operate the electric grid that is needed to meet Maine’s climate and energy requirements. See the story in Maine

Choosing Clean Energy in Iowa

Group-purchasing programs are helping homeowners, businesses and farmers go solar in all of Iowa's 99 counties. See how Iowans joined together to make this happen.

Choosing Clean Energy in Ohio

City and school officials in Ohio are tapping the potential of wind, solar, hydro and energy efficiency to save taxpayer dollars. See how their leadership has made a difference.

Choosing Clean Energy in Pennsylvania

Advancing Clean Energy PA is an online community working to change the conversation surrounding clean energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation. Join the conversation.