April 2024
Member Spotlight
Throughout 2024, SECC will recognize one member every month, providing an organizational profile and highlighting the member's accomplishments in the smart energy space.
About The Beneficial Electrification League (BEL)
The Beneficial Electrification League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2018 that works to facilitate electrification, when it is beneficial, by promoting understanding among key stakeholders, championing necessary grid infrastructure and developing actionable resources to accelerate implementation. BEL envisions a future where electrification is broadly implemented, when beneficial, to drive economic development, meet consumer needs, and achieve environmental goals.
What is Beneficial Electrification?
Beneficial electrification includes the application of electricity to end-uses where doing so satisfies at least one of the following conditions, without adversely affecting the others:
- Saves consumers money over time;
- Benefits the environment and reduces greenhouse gas emissions;
- Improves product quality or consumer quality of life;
- Fosters a more robust and resilient grid.
Supporting Electric Cooperatives and Municipal Utilities
BEL helps electric cooperatives and municipal utilities navigate issues related to beneficial electrification.
Examples of their work include:
- USDA PACE and New ERA Program Support: BEL is assisting coalitions of munis and co-ops with proposals, including at least 100 projects worth $13B in cost, totaling 4,000 MW solar, 2,000 MW wind, 2,000 MW storage and annual GHG reduction of 22M+ tons.
- DOE’s Grid Resilience 40101(d) Program Support: BEL has supported over a dozen applications in multiple states for entities which qualify for small utility set asides to gain access to funding through state formula grant programs.
- DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) Program Support: BEL has helped over a dozen utilities apply for and win competitive and formula EECBG grants.
- DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program Support: BEL helped support 11 applicants in round two of the GRIP Program, totaling over $200 million in grants and supported approximately $300 million in grant funding.
- Tribal Assistance: BEL is facilitating partnerships between tribal organizations and their electric cooperatives and utility partners to apply for BIA tribal electrification grants and DOE electrification programs.
- Direct Pay Tax Credit Support: BEL provides guidance for community-owned municipal & cooperative utilities to facilitate utilization of the U.S. Treasury’s Direct Pay Tax Credits.
- Weatherization/Electrification Together Initiative: BEL has developed a coalition of 350 distribution co-ops across 32+ states to design & implement a home energy retrofit model that combines weatherization & electrification to benefit low-income and disadvantaged consumers, reduce emissions, and improve grid efficiency.
- Electric School Bus Initiative: BEL launched a coalition effort to bring together 300 rural electric co-ops in 20+ states to facilitate coordination between utilities and school districts on electric school bus programs and troubleshoot issues of concern with the EPA Clean School Bus program.
- State Electrify Meetings: BEL has created a politically neutral brand of event where state and local stakeholders can discuss new technologies, products, and program performance. Recent events have covered topics spanning federal funding opportunities, tax policy, electric school buses, water heaters, weatherization, and more! BEL has hosted 31 state-wide leadership summits with 3,000+ event attendees.
Collaborative Success
BEL brings together a diverse group of organizations that support acceptance of beneficial electrification as a necessary strategy to meet economic, consumer and environmental goals. Connect with BEL by contacting info@be-league.org. For more information, visit https://be-league.org/ and follow the organization on LinkedIn.
