Stronger Together: How the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators is Serving Startups and Communities
LACI knows well how important it is for startup founders to receive early stage incubation services and support as they look to scale their cleantech solutions. Incubators like LACI provide this crucial support, and yet the amount of federal funding dedicated to clean energy incubators and accelerators is paltry given the need to meet the climate crisis. That is in great part why LACI formed the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators (NCCEI) to advocate for additional resources for early state cleantech startups and entrepreneurs to move at speed and scale, and provide a voice for the community in Washington and other venues.
LACI first convened the NCCEI in early 2020 to create a national presence to raise awareness and advocate for increased federal support. The members stepped up to support a bold $150 billion transportation electrification stimulus proposal put together and released in April 2020, which were the early days of the COVID pandemic and related economic crisis. We believe this in turn helps the member incubators better equip and support the thousands of entrepreneurs they collectively serve across the nation.
Today, the NCCEI includes 34 members working together to promote robust growth of regional energy innovation ecosystems across the nation by providing support for startups and entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on clean technologies. The members support these startups with a menu of services ranging from product development assistance to mentorship to funding and financing programs–like LACI’s first-of-its-kind LACI Cleantech Debt Fund.
United by more than just a shared commitment to fostering startup success, NCCEI members also share a common vision: to ignite and accelerate equitable climate action that empowers diverse entrepreneurs and serves diverse communities. To this end, NCCEI members have unanimously adopted a Statement of Principles in support of Justice40, the Biden-Harris Administration’s signature environmental justice policy.
The Coalition holds regular fly-ins and advocacy days to make the case for federal investment to support the vital work of clean energy incubators. Most recently, the NCCEI hosted a panel in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention focusing on how federal investments in early stage innovation are crucial for maintaining the United States’ global competitive edge. The panel included a trio of prominent federal legislators who participated in the event: Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Representative Mike Levin (CA-49), and Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), along with a handful of other changemakers who are helping to drive our country forward.
The support of these and many other lawmakers is both inspiring and essential, as incubators rely on grants and other financial contributions to keep their lights on and their programs at work.
Fortunately, under the leadership of President Biden, the U.S. has made great strides to secure a healthier future for our people and planet. The Inflation Reduction Act–the most significant climate legislation in the history of the United States–is and will remain a boon for our country, and the NCCEI coalition is actively working to champion the implementation of these federal investments in our communities.
As the election season approaches, we know that to provide the most value to cleantech entrepreneurs, we need to build on what we have started with a president who acknowledges the climate crisis and believes in the need to invest in sustainable solutions. We still need increased dedicated funding for clean energy incubators, at a minimum of $15 million a year which was what the CHIPS and Science Act authorized. While still more dedicated resources are needed, LACI and the NCCEI will continue the push toward a more equitable and sustainable economy by providing exceptional support to startups.
Our cleantech entrepreneurs and our communities deserve nothing less.