Clean Energy Aggregation Advocacy Campaign Contractor

The OEC Action Fund seeks competitive proposals, submitted by March 31, 2024, for a contract to run a Clean Energy Aggregation Advocacy Campaign through November 2024. 

Background

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a unique and powerful tool for municipalities to address environmental and economic security within their communities. Aggregation gives local governments the power, on behalf of residents, to choose who supplies their energy. Since communities can negotiate a purchase for a large number of people, they can typically get bulk buying discounts, sometimes as high as 15 to 20 percent compared to standard service offerings. Aggregation has been an option for municipalities for over 20 years in Ohio, with over 600 communities participating.

In order to establish CCA, communities must adopt an ordinance or resolution establishing aggregation, and creating a ballot initiative for voter approval. 

About CCA and Clean Energy

CCA allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider. By aggregating demand for energy at the municipal level, people can use their combined buying power to drive down the overall cost of electricity and also choose up to 100% clean energy supply. Aggregation contracts can also build a small fee into energy rates to provide funding for clean energy priorities, such as building renewable energy projects or creating city-backed energy efficiency programs. Additionally, CCA contracts typically run for three-years, and each renewal period offers an opportunity for renegotiation.

Campaign Overview

The OEC Action Fund (OEC AF) seeks a contractor to lead a multi-faceted campaign to transition Ohio’s cities to 100% clean energy through effective implementation of community choice aggregation. In collaboration with the OEC AF Energy team and Political Team, the contractor will create the infrastructure, advocacy capacity, and policy support necessary to facilitate cities across Ohio passing resolutions to put 100% renewable clean energy aggregation ballot issues before voters in 2024, accelerating carbon emission reduction and increasing demand for renewable energy development in Ohio.

This contractor will help build grassroots support and lobby cities to either put clean energy aggregation on the ballot or to transition a current program to utilizing 100% clean energy for their program. The contractor will meet directly with elected officials to lobby on behalf of the OEC Action Fund with the goal of moving 3-4 communities to 100% clean energy aggregation in 2024.

Scope of Work for Campaign Contractor

Competitive proposals will be designed to accomplish the following activities:

  • Establish CCA with 100% clean energy generation as a provision in at least 3-4 target local governments, leading efforts to recruit and support champions for the campaigns

  • With OEC Action Fund staff, maintain a consistent calendar of events, deadlines, and other components of the campaign’s work plan for each component of the campaign

  • Coordinate with coalition partners and assist in the development of campaign strategies, maintaining regular contact with relevant working committees and participating in calls and meetings as needed

  • Support grassroots organizing work with relevant coalition partners

  • Testify before local governmental bodies, communicate technical CCA information to government officials, and directly lobby elected leaders in targeted local governments, serving as a technical resource for communities who pursue 100% clean energy in their CCA ballot initiatives

  • Provide social media content for the OEC Action Fund communications team that highlights victories for the campaign

Qualifications for Contractor

Competitive proposals will illustrate five or more years of experience in at least some of the following:

  • Political campaign work (for candidates or issue), especially in grassroots, media, and/or management;

  • Track record of successful campaign work;

  • Government staff work for elected officials or agencies;

  • Advocacy work to educate policymakers and/or the public;

  • Experience overseeing simultaneous campaigns;

  • Energy-related advocacy campaigns and communications,

  • Self-motivated, able to work remotely, Ohio based preferred;

  • Very strong communication and interpersonal skills.

This contract will run for eight months starting in April 2024. Contractors should be prepared to travel extensively throughout Ohio for the duration of this campaign. Competitive proposals will range from $40,000 to $48,000. In addition, for each targeted community that successfully incorporates 100% clean energy generation into the aggregation program or successfully gets a 100% clean energy aggregation issue on the ballot, the contractor will receive a $4,000 payment. This additional payment is limited to up to 4 payments.

Campaign proposals should be emailed to Pete Bucher (pbucher@theoec.org) no later than March 31, 2024.

About the OEC Action Fund: The OEC AF’s mission is to protect the environment and health of all Ohio communities by electing climate champions, holding public officials accountable, and advancing environmental justice policies.