DOLA (Colorado Department of Local Affairs) | RENW Program Impact Evaluation

RENW Program Impact Evaluation

Lotus completed an analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of the Renewable and Clean Energy Initiative (RENW), understand how RENW can be improved, and develop information on how to evaluate future applications for RENW funding. Lotus developed two tools to complete this analysis, an impact evaluation spreadsheet that quantifies the impacts of implemented RENW projects and a cost-benefit analysis tool to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of RENW applications. These analyses assessed reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy impacts, and impacts to Disproportionately Impacted and Just Transition communities.

Through discussions with DOLA, Lotus identified key metrics to track and compare project impacts. An interactive evaluation tool was developed that allows DOLA to easily enter any new project data and calculates all identified metrics for all RENW projects. This work aids DOLA in making investments that advance renewable energy generation and reduce GHG emissions in Colorado.