In her two-part interview with Planet First Action, Clare Doyle Dowd, the Head Of Policy at BlocPower, shared rich insights and expert perspectives for all to learn from.
Watch the interview on YouTube at the below links, or tune in to the audio only on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and check out the incredible resources Clare shared below!
BlocPower’s Vision Of The Future:
“That every home and building in America can be an engine of opportunity, and that all the climate, health, and economic benefits flowing from the green economy should be accessible for everyone.”
Planet First Action Interview With Clare Doyle Dowd
Head of Policy, BlocPower
Part I
Part II
Clare Doyle Dowd is the head of policy at BlocPower, and is one of the preeminent leaders working on the frontlines of climate action today, harnessing an extensive career and successful track record that has spanned work in the Clinton Administration, to LISC (one of the largest CDFI’s in the country) and so much more.
Clare has earned distinction has a public service fellow, has been responsible for the creation of 1000’s of affordable homes, and remains deeply committed to bringing her expertise and resources to bear in support of communities across the country.
Today, Clare is working alongside the incredible team at BlocPower under Donnel Baird’s leadership.
BlocPower is a powerhouse of community engagement, workforce development, environmental justice and building decarbonization - named the 4th most innovative company in the world in 2022 by Fast Company, one of TIME’s most influential companies in that same year, and placing on CNBC’s top 50 most disruptive companies list over numerous consecutive years.
BlocPower are doing the meaningful, substantive work, across the spectrum of climate action and environmental justice. They are true community leaders, with the expertise and experience to know how to engage and work with and alongside the local community to realize a just and equitable transition.
BlocPower truly is an incredible company, zeroed in on helping communities, willing to do the hard work that is required to change people’s lives and their homes for the better. To help them save money, to live in a healthier environment, and so much more.
After closing a $150 million fundraising round, and being honored by Vice President Kamala Harris, BlocPower CEO Donnel Baird shared a statement that encapsulates much of BlocPower’s ethos:
"Whenever someone wants to make a change, or do something new, nothing is guaranteed to turn out according to best laid plans. You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs. You can't renovate a home without dust and mess, and, sometimes, lead, mold, and asbestos. We go into low income communities to finance and upgrade 100 year old buildings–and sometimes we run into 100 year old surprises lurking in the walls, or hiding in the basement. But I'm proud that at BlocPower, we always finish what we start, and we clean up messes. The biggest mess of all is the climate crisis.”
Dive deeper into the insights, highlights, and expert perspectives shared by Clare Doyle Dowd using the resources below!
BlocPower Is Leading On The Frontlines of Decarbonization & The Energy Transition Across America
From Boston to San Jose, Clare Doyle Dowd highlighted just a fraction of the incredible work that BlocPower is leading across the country:
Brooklyn
Buildings & Transportation are in inextricably connected - both in our lives, and when it comes to decarbonization. BlocPower is leading at this intersection point forging crucial partnerships to unlock the full benefits of a just transition for communities, as with their partnership in 2023 with Dollaride to bring clean and accessible transportation to underserved communities in Brooklyn.
Ithaca
BlocPower is a core leader behind the strategy and implementation of Ithaca’s green new deal - an initiative to ‘green’ the entire city as the large-scale city electrification initiative in the U.S.. BlocPower is a comprehensive partner for Ithaca and Tompkins County, collaborating in everything from working with building owners and the city, to the ‘Cozy Basements!’ program with the Cornell Cooperative Extension to develop the local workforce, and more.
Boston
Expanding its Civilian Climate Corps program, BlocPower was awarded a $1.2 million dollar grant by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to create a groundbreaking new workforce development program with the local nonprofit, Browning the Green Space.
The program follows BlocPower’s support earlier in 2023 for Melrose, MA, who used the BlocMaps software to create their beneficial electrification program.
Read more on BlocPower’s MassCEC grant and local partnerships here.
Houston
In Houston, BlocPower is leveraging its deep expertise to facilitate the provision of a four-week, comprehensive hands-on training program focused on developing the next generation of talent in the green workforce. The Houston program, known as the ‘Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator’ builds on BlocPower’s successes with its Civilian Climate Corps Program, and draws on strengths from partners Goodwill Houston and Accenture.
Engaging all stakeholder groups and building robust partnerships to drive forward the energy transition.
During her interview, Clare Doyle Dowd shared highlights from BlocPower’s participation in the Legion 2 cohort of the Cradle To Commerce program, a new public-private initiative funded by the Department of Energy, facilitated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and comprised of four national labs and three technology incubators dedicated to fostering innovation and accelerating equitable climate tech entrepreneurship.
BlocPower’s Industry-Leading Tools & Innovative Resources
Clare Doyle Dowd shared insights on BlocPower’s unique points of differentiation with its industry leading software and data solution, and the pioneering work they have led, creating innovative resources that connect and empower local communities.
Community Advisory Boards (CAB)
BlocPower are unique in their capacity to engage communities and build trust as the critical first step in electrification projects. During her interview with Planet First Action, Clare Doyle Dowd shared more about how important that work is, and the crucial role that Community Advisory Boards play. On May 18th of 2024, BlocPower facilitated its first ever National Community Advisory Board summit, uniting community leaders from across the country to foster connections and share insights.
In remarks on lessons learned at the state level to be applied nationally, BlocPower recommended that resources be allocated to ‘trust-building interventions and community education’, noting that CABs “should play an important role in uniting stakeholders and building trust”.
BlocMaps
BlocPower developed an industry-leading data solution focused in on providing stakeholders with the necessary and relevant data to enable efficient program design and development for initiatives focused on decarbonization, the energy transition, and environmental justice. The software enables decision-makers to determine which buildings to focus on first, supplements funding applications with data-driven simulations, and empowers communities with the insights they need, including building data, energy cost data, carbon reduction insights, and employment statistics.
‘Favorite’ Policies - Both From the Inflation Reduction Act!
Home Energy Rebates & The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)
The Home Energy Rebates
Clare shared that one of her favorite policies right now, is the Home Energy Rebates created by the Inflation Reduction Act, adding a congratulations to Doreen Harris, NYSERDA, and Governor Hochul for New York State being the first to roll out these incentives!
Comprised of two parts, Clare shared that part one is the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, which are directly for consumers to be used at the point of sale (for example, at a big box store) as they buy and retrofit high-efficiency home appliances. Part two is the Home Efficiency Rebates, which takes more of a holistic whole-of-home approach.
See if your state or territory has applied for and/or received funding here, and be sure to listen in to Clare’s insights on these incentives from the interview!
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
Clare’s other favorite policy is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and the three programs it creates.
Clare shared an overview of the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF), the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), and the Solar For All (S4A) programs, and how BlocPower is currently thinking about how to prepare for those programs as they start to roll out.
The GGRF truly is an initiative with massive implications and potential, and everyone needs to know about it.
In addition to listening in to Clare’s insights, learn more about the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using Planet First Action’s Guide to the program, here.
“Why am I excited about those? Because this is a once-in-a-generation kind of opportunity, with the rebates on consumer engagement, and the GGRF focused in on capital deployment and building philanthropic connections.”
— Clare Doyle Dowd, Head of Policy, BlocPower
The Future: Election 2024, and “Sleeping Giants”
Throughout her two-part interview with Planet First Action, Clare Doyle Dowd shared tremendous insights and perspectives across a wide range of areas related to the energy transition. In addition to that, the PFA team asked Clare to share her thoughts on preparing for the upcoming election and what ‘sleeping giants’ exist across the landscape, representing massive, untapped potential. Clare’s insightful responses as ever, did not dissapoint:
On The 2024 Election
When asked about the upcoming elections, Clare shared an important perspective that many can learn from - and that is the importance of state-level partnerships and engagement.
But what’s more, as a true leader, Clare Doyle Dowd shared a valuable lesson regarding the energy transition and in her opinion, what it means to all Americans.
Listen to the highlight here, and be sure to listen to the full interview!
The Health Electrification Nexus
As Head of Policy, Clare Doyle Dowd not only reacts to existing policy structures and programs, but strategizes novel connections and approaches for the future. As a result of her work, Clare shared that she believes the nexus between healthcare and electrification, though nascent, represents a massive opportunity for streamlining capital and improving lives across America.
During the interview, Clare highlighted BlocPower’s research and partnership with the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, which affirmed “linkages between building electrification, health outcomes, and healthcare savings.”, as well as her leadership with MIT Sloan School Of Management’s Sustainability Lab in a project focused on ‘multi-solving decarbonization and healthier living’.
Check out the resources linked above, listen to the highlight here and be sure to get Clare’s full perspective from the interview!
Affordable Housing
As an expert and leader that has dedicated much of her professional career to community development and the creation of affordable housing, Clare Doyle Dowd has a uniquely valuable perspective on the role of Affordable Housing programs in the country’s future. From the model that the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) market presents for newer energy-based tax equity markets to the policies that align incentives and streamline capital to achieve multiple social objectives at once, Clare understands the importance of the sector better than most.
Clare’s perspective as she observes exciting legislation forming in congress: it’s another ‘sleeping giant’ that will likely awaken.
“Newlab is a place of incubation and innovation. It's a locus of all of these exciting new companies… Newlab has been an incredible partner for BlocPower, from the beginning”
— Clare Doyle Dowd, Head of Policy, BlocPower