Rural Energy Academy
Empowering rural communities to innovate in energy production, the Rural Energy Academy equips county leaders, planners, and economic developers with the tools and expertise to drive sustainable growth.
Hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of Development Officials (NADO), the Academy offers on-demand education, expert-led technical assistance, energy tours, and peer-learning opportunities—all designed to transform energy strategies from displacement to expansion.
Launched in July 2025, the Mana Group is the Managing Partner for the Academy and will work alongside other subject matter experts to create comprehensive case studies and other responsive resources to help to build a resilient, rural energy landscape.
To learn about the Academy, please visit the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Anticipated Impact
The Academy and its activities can help change the narrative on energy production from displacement to expansion; from erasing the past to building our collective future. County and municipal governments are, in many ways, the laboratory of innovation. Local leaders will be given tools, training and networking opportunities that build their expertise on energy production, allow them to visit and see success stories in-person, learn from unsuccessful projects, and efficiently solicit and incorporate community input to be fully equipped to make decisions about their communities’ energy future.
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Hosts
The Academy, hosted by NACo and NADO, will serve nearly 40,000 county officials, 3.6 million county employees, and more than 500 Regional Development Organizations nationwide.
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Audience
Rural County elected representatives, zoning officials, planners, economic development professionals.
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Timeline
Launched in July 2025, activities to gather information and coordinate education and execution are now underway.
Rural Energy Academy.
The National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with the National Association of Development Officials (NADO), are working together to launch a Rural Energy Academy (“the Academy”) to provide resources, peer learning opportunities and targeted technical assistance (TA) to rural decision makers as they consider diversifying or expanding their energy production portfolios.
NACo and NADO, as trusted brokers of information for and coordinators of rural stakeholders, would lead the Academy and incorporate its programming into their member offerings. An Advisory Board would manage the Academy made up of its hosts, its seed funder – the Siting Clean Collaborative, Mana Group Consulting, and other subject matter experts.
Contact Us for Questions
Resources
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.
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We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—peer learning, office hours, sessions with subject-matter experts, and individualized technical assistance — to work toward a county-specific implementation plan and deliverable.
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
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In December 2025, NACo co-hosted the first Rural Energy Academy peer exchange with Gilliam, Wasco and Sherman Counties, Oregon.
These agricultural counties on the Columbia Plateau have decades of experience navigating the complexities of siting wind energy projects while reaping local benefits and are applying lessons learned to emerging solar projects and engagement with local data centers. This immersive one-and-a-half-day event blends peer learning, expert insights and tours of energy projects. Key themes explored:Siting and permitting of wind and solar
Energy generation economics and workforce training
Data centers
Community benefits
Community and developer engagement
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David Senjem’s opinion on renewable energy changed on an international exchange trip to Germany, and when he took office as an Olmsted County, Minn. commissioner, he wanted to make sure counties were positioned to be ready to participate in energy development. He’s now an advisor to NACo’s Rural Energy Academy, which helps rural county leaders navigate development and siting of wind, solar, battery storage and data centers and whether they are right for their residents, economies and natural resources. He and NACo Program Manager Blake Gardiner join the County News Podcast to share what resources and learning opportunities are available to counties preparing for energy production.
Read more & Listen via NACO -
Rural counties across the U.S. are increasingly tapping into local energy resources—from wind farms to solar arrays—bringing significant economic and community benefits. As illustrated by stories from places like Sherman County, Ore., and Carson County, Texas, renewable energy development is boosting local revenues, supporting public services, and reshaping economic outlooks. Counties are also playing a key role in siting, permitting, and negotiating public benefit agreements to ensure these projects work for residents. This growing energy potential is becoming central to broader discussions on domestic energy supply and rural economic resilience.
Read more via NACo