Small-town clean energy coalition targets 100 mayors

A new coalition led by a North Carolina mayor aims to scale clean energy solutions in underserved small towns.

Mondale Robinson, mayor of Enfield, North Carolina—a town of 2,000 residents near the poverty line—launched the National Conference of Small Cities and Rural Mayors in September 2026. The coalition targets mayors of incorporated municipalities with populations under 30,000 (which covers 93% of U.S. towns, housing 60 million people). Enfield has already established Enfield Energy Futures, a nonprofit pursuing preliminary geothermal development and solar farm projects to power the town. The group focuses on peer networks, training, and infrastructure upgrades like replacing aging electrical substations and developing thermal energy systems for heating and cooling. Currently targeting 100 founding mayors, the coalition aims to address energy access and food insecurity through community-led clean energy models in regions often overlooked by philanthropy.

This approach could lower energy costs for low-income households by shifting infrastructure investment toward small-scale, resilient systems. For Enfield and similar towns, it represents a direct path to affordable heating and electricity without relying on centralized grids vulnerable to aging infrastructure. The coalition’s early recruitment phase shows potential for scalable solutions in areas where 90% of U.S. philanthropy targets urban centers instead. The source notes geothermal plans remain preliminary and the coalition is in early stages—meaning real-world impact depends on sustained local adoption beyond initial recruitment.

Source: Canary Media