RE-AMP

The Garfield Foundation launched RE-AMP in 2004 because many Midwestern funders and their grantees were working to create a cleaner energy system in the region but few were working together.

Using systems mapping, Garfield was able to work with the members of the group to establish a shared vision of the problem and to identify four high-level points of leverage: increasing energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewables, blocking new coal plants, and retiring the existing coal fleet.

Fighting coal hadn’t been part of their agenda, but as a result of the insight gained from system’s mapping the importance of challenging coal became evident. Subsequently, funders committed two million dollars in new grant money to coal resistance work. Funders later adjusted their individual portfolios to be better aligned with the RE-AMP goals and have since given a total of over $25 million in clean energy grants. The group recently formalized further to create a an annual pooled fund of approximately $4.5 million.

The results have been dramatic: near-total success in blocking new Midwestern coal plants, greater unity among advocates in the region, the passage of stronger regulations in many states, and a growing number of members in the collaborative.