252 pages
6 x 9
25 photos/illustrations
For decades, we’ve heard that local, renewable power is on the horizon, and cheaper technologies will one day revolutionize our energy system. Michelle Moore has spent her career proving this opportunity is already here—and any community, no matter how small, can build their own clean energy future. Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns Through Clean Power is the inspiring and practical guide to igniting this transition today.
In Rural Renaissance, Moore argues we don’t have to wait for new legislation or technologies to begin our work. From the White House to her hometown in rural Georgia, Moore has gathered the tools needed to bring the far-reaching benefits of clean power to small communities, particularly in rural America. In this accessible guide, Moore provides an overview of the current energy landscape, including the federal, state, and local policies that will shape each community’s unique approach. Next, she describes five pathways to clean power in rural America and strategies for achieving them, including energy efficiency, renewable power, resilience (including microgrids and battery storage), the electrification of transportation, and finally, broadband internet. Throughout this journey, Moore shares stories of challenges and successes and encourages readers to design programs that address inequality.
Clean energy shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy or for sleek and modern city centers. Rural Renaissance offers a vision of thriving rural communities where clean power is the spark that leads to greater investment, vitality, and equity. We can start today—and this book provides the toolbox.
"A very important and understandable book on developing sustainable and resilient rural electric infrastructure…. a reference book for a rural development policy course and for rural community organizations such as electric cooperatives and extension services engaged with renewable energy development."
Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences
"In this personal, poignant, and pragmatic book, Michelle Moore aligns her life story with her life's work to show how we can, and must, empower rural America with the tools to participate in our clean energy future. Rural Renaissance ably demonstrates that the power to change the world resides in every community."
Joel Makower, Chairman and Cofounder, GreenBiz Group
"Michelle Moore’s prescriptions for rural America are grounded in her deep knowledge of renewable energy, our historic agricultural economy, and its rich cultural legacy. We are a rapidly urbanizing country, but our roots remain rural, and like the strongest trees, we need those roots to be vibrant and healthy. The health of rural America is everyone’s business!"
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Board Chair at the Center for International Environmental Law and former four-term President of the Iowa Association of Human Rights Agencies
"As someone who grew up there, I know rural America has to be a critical part of a clean energy future. This book equips local leaders to make sure the future includes rural jobs, businesses, and a clean energy industry made in rural America."
Ray Mabus, former Secretary of the Navy and former Governor of Mississippi
Prologue
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Roots of Rural Power
Chapter 2: Localization: Our Energy Futures
Chapter 3: Thousands of Local Energy Democracies
Chapter 4: Growth for the Greater Good
Chapter 5: Energy Efficiency: The First Fuel as a First Step
Chapter 6: Solar: The Last Crop
Chapter 7: Energy Resilience and Self-Reliance
Chapter 8: EVs: The Transformation of Transportation
Chapter 9: Rural Broadband, Smart Grids, and Rural Power
Chapter 10: Scale without Losing Local Control
Conclusion: Sharing Power
Epilogue: Going Home
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
About the Author
Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns through Clean Power on June 27 at 1 p.m. will imagine thriving rural communities in the United States where local, renewable energy sparks investment, vitality, and equity. Panelists from Island Press and Groundswell will discuss the pathways to clean power in rural America and strategies for achieving them. This session is presented in partnership with Island Press and will not be livestreamed.
Join us on Thursday, August 4th at 2:30 p.m. ET in conversation with Michelle Moore, CEO of Groundswell, author of the upcoming book Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns through Clean Power, and President Biden nominee to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors. Michelle and Garrison Institute co-founder Jonathan F.P. Rose will discuss the transition to clean energy and steps necessary to create an inclusive system that regenerates communities around the country. This is the second of our Pathways to Planetary Health (PPH) Forum Summer 2022 series and focuses on the Ecological Civilization pathway.
This live webinar will be conducted on Zoom at 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 4, 2022. The webinar link will be emailed to participants within twenty-four hours of registration.
Speakers: Michelle Moore is CEO of Groundswell, a nonprofit that builds community power by connecting clean energy with economic development, affordability, and quality of life. A social entrepreneur and former White House official with roots in rural Georgia, Michelle is a relentless agent for change. Her accomplishments range from delivering programs that cut energy use by $11 billion and led to the deployment of 3.2 Gigawatts of new renewable energy production while leading sustainability for the Obama Administration; to developing LEED into a globally recognized brand as Senior Vice President of USGBC. Michelle currently serves on the Executive Advisory Board for the American Flood Coalition and on the Board of Directors for THI Studio. Michelle’s work is rooted in her faith, and the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jonathan F.P. Rose’s business, public policy, and not-for-profit work focus on creating a more environmentally, socially, and economically responsible world. Jonathan and his wife Diana Calthorpe Rose are the co-founders of the Garrison Institute. He serves on its Board and leads its Pathways to Planetary Health program.
A Netroots breakfast book party to discuss "Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America's Hometowns through Clean Power"
Mike Lux Media is hosting climate leader and Obama administration alumna Michelle Moore for a breakfast book party to launch her new book Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns through Clean Power. We'll discuss her roadmap for success over bagels, fruit, and coffee. It's free to attend, but please register so we can get an accurate headcount for catering. Come grab a bagel and a book before heading over to the convention center.
Join us for a virtual seminar led by L. Michelle Moore, CEO of Groundswell, social entrepreneur, and former White House official.
In her new book, Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns through Clean Power, Moore argues we don’t have to wait for new legislation or technologies to begin our work. She has gathered the tools needed to bring the far-reaching benefits of clean power to small communities, particularly in rural America.
In this discussion, Michelle describes five pathways to clean power in rural America and strategies for achieving them.
Moderated by Lauren Withycombe Keeler, assistant professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, this event is in partnership with Island Press, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that shines a spotlight on crucial issues and focuses attention on sustainable solutions.
Clean energy doesn’t need to be limited to urban and suburban areas. Any community, no matter how small, can build their own clean energy future. Clean energy, in fact, can be an aspect of thriving rural communities and its presence can spark greater investment, vitality and equity.
Join the Smart Growth Network as L. Michelle Moore as she talks about her new book, Rural Renaissance. The book outlines a set of tools to bring to clean power in rural America and the strategies to achieve them, including energy efficiency, renewable power sources, broadband internet and other technologies, by sharing success stories and how communities are working together to put these systems in place.
Participants of the live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits (live attendance required).
If unable to attend, the recording will be posted at http://smartgrowth.org/rural-renaissance-revitalizing-americas-hometowns-through-clean-power/ after the live program.
Detail to be shared soon.
Read the introduction and chapter 1 below or download them here.
In an op-ed written in collaboration with the Urban Resilience Project, L. Michelle Moore (author of Rural Renaissance) writes that while Washington is delivering the green investments we need, it will be up to rural leaders to put those dollars to work building local resilience in a rapidly changing world.
Moore writes:
Investing in resilience can reduce vulnerabilities and mitigate the damage from extreme weather, making it easier to bounce back after the threat has passed. Resilience-focused technologies including microgrids, energy storage and solar panels also increase local self-reliance, making rural families and businesses less dependent on help that has to come from far away.
Read the full article published in The Progressive HERE.
In a new op-ed published in collaboration with Island Press, L. Michelle Moore (author of Rural Renaissance) shares how a “Made in America” clean energy future can do better, by connecting the value of clean energy with rural values.
Moore writes:
Rising local opposition is threatening our clean energy future. Worse, this is happening just as funds from the Inflation Reduction Act — the biggest federal investment in climate and clean energy in U.S. history, and the biggest investment in rural power in a century — are hitting the street. How can we get from “not here” and “not yet” to a unified “yes here” and “now”?
Read the full piece published in Solar Power World HERE.