WRI has partnered with Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), Electrification Coalition, the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to launch an initiative called the “Elective Pay Lighthouse Cohort.” This program directly supports local governments and other applicable entities as they work to maximize elective pay and IRA incentives.

With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and Invest in Our Future, WRI plays a key role coordinating support across partners and providing direct one-on-one technical assistance. Cohort participantsincluding "early adopter" cities, towns and counties seeking to file a tax return to receive reimbursement in 2024 or 2025are able to access pro bono legal support offered by L4GG and financial and budgeting consultation from GFOA. Over 2 years, the combined project team of partners will work with over 60 local entities and their leaders, including sustainability and energy managers, finance officers, legal and procurement staff and elected officials.

Ultimately, this initiative will catalyze projects on the ground, help make the case for broader market adoption, and build long-term capacity and expertise on elective pay that can increase tax credit utilization for the next 10 years (which is how long the credits last).

Partners will simultaneously gather learnings and develop resources and guidance that can be shared with a broader network of local governments across the country. Sign up for WRI’s Clean Energy Pulse email list to receive invites to webinars and updates on new Lighthouse resources and insights.

Resources: