Report on Phoenix’s Participation in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Leadership Program

Executive Summary

The City of Phoenix has advanced its commitment to sustainable urban development through the selection of Phoenix Energy Manager Carlos Aguiar Hernandez for the 2025 Executive Energy Leadership program. This initiative, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is designed to equip decision-makers with knowledge of advanced energy practices. This participation directly supports Phoenix’s strategic goals related to sustainability and aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning energy, urban development, and climate action.

Program Details and Strategic Alignment

The NREL Executive Energy Leadership program is a four-month curriculum structured to foster expertise in sustainable energy solutions. The program’s core components are:

• Objective: To provide in-depth education on emerging energy technologies and analytical tools from leading NREL researchers and collaborators.
• Participants: A cohort of 19 leaders from diverse sectors including government, corporate, nonprofit, and community organizations.
• Methodology: Experiential learning through visits to NREL campuses in Boulder and Golden, Colorado, to observe the latest energy developments.
• Final Project: A requirement for participants to present a group energy project with direct relevance to their home community, ensuring practical application of knowledge.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The participation of the City of Phoenix in this program represents a significant investment in achieving global sustainability targets on a local level. The initiative is directly aligned with the following SDGs:

1. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The program’s central theme is the advancement of clean and renewable energy. Mr. Aguiar Hernandez’s objective is to leverage this knowledge to accelerate Phoenix’s transition to a more resilient, affordable, and renewable energy future, ensuring equitable access to clean power for all communities.
2. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By focusing on innovative energy strategies and data-driven solutions, the initiative aims to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Phoenix’s infrastructure. The final community-based project will provide a tangible solution to a local challenge, contributing to a more sustainable urban environment.
3. SDG 13 (Climate Action): As stated by Phoenix’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Carla De La Chapa, this participation reflects the city’s commitment to climate leadership. The adoption of cutting-edge renewable energy technologies is a primary strategy for mitigating climate change and reducing the city’s carbon footprint.
4. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The program fosters collaboration between national research institutions, local governments, and leaders from various sectors. This partnership is crucial for sharing knowledge, building capacity, and implementing effective, data-driven sustainability solutions.

Anticipated Outcomes for the City of Phoenix

The city anticipates several key outcomes from this strategic engagement, which will reinforce its position as a leader in urban sustainability.

• Enhanced Strategic Planning: The insights gained will directly inform Phoenix’s sustainability and energy policies, ensuring they are based on the latest research and technological advancements.
• Innovation in Energy Management: Access to NREL’s expertise will strengthen the city’s ability to implement innovative, data-driven energy solutions.
• Accelerated Clean Energy Transition: The knowledge acquired will help overcome barriers and accelerate the city-wide shift to clean power sources, supporting both environmental and economic goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article’s central theme is the advancement of clean and renewable energy. It explicitly mentions “renewable energy,” “clean energy solutions,” “clean power,” and creating a more “resilient, affordable and renewable energy future.” This directly aligns with the core mission of SDG 7.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The initiative is focused on the city of Phoenix. The goal is to “bring back innovative strategies directly supporting our city’s sustainability and energy goals” and to help “all Phoenix communities benefit.” This highlights the effort to make a specific urban area more sustainable and resilient, which is the focus of SDG 11.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article mentions Phoenix’s commitment to “climate leadership.” The transition to renewable energy and the implementation of sustainability goals are fundamental strategies for climate change mitigation, which is the primary objective of SDG 13.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The entire initiative described is a partnership. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is collaborating with leaders from “government, corporate, nonprofit and community organizations,” including the city of Phoenix, to share knowledge and advance clean energy. This multi-stakeholder approach is the essence of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly supports this target through its focus on “advancing clean energy solutions,” strengthening the “transition to a more… renewable energy future,” and the “continued shift to clean power.”
   • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The NREL’s Executive Energy Leadership program is a clear example of this target in action. It facilitates learning about “the latest developments within the energy space” and “emerging energy technologies” through collaboration.
2. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and resilience. The article shows Phoenix actively working towards this by participating in a program to learn “innovative strategies” to support its “sustainability and energy goals” and enhance the city’s “resilience” and “climate leadership.”
3. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The leadership program is a direct form of capacity-building for decision-makers like Phoenix’s Energy Manager, equipping them with knowledge on “cutting-edge insights into emerging energy technologies” to lead “data-driven solutions.”
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The program itself is a multi-stakeholder partnership, bringing together leaders from “government, corporate, nonprofit and community organizations” to collaborate on clean energy solutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 7 Targets:
   • The progress towards increasing the share of renewable energy (Target 7.2) is implied by the city’s commitment to the “shift to clean power.” A direct indicator would be the percentage increase in renewable energy use in Phoenix’s energy mix.
   • For Target 7.a, a process indicator is the existence and execution of the leadership program itself. The article mentions “19 leaders participating” and the requirement to present a “group energy project relevant to their community,” which are measurable outcomes of the knowledge-sharing partnership.
2. For SDG 11 Target:
   • An indicator for Target 11.b is the adoption and implementation of new plans and strategies. The article implies that the knowledge gained from the program will lead to “innovative strategies” and “data-driven solutions” being implemented in Phoenix. The development and presentation of the “group energy project” is a tangible first step.
3. For SDG 13 Target:
   • An indicator for Target 13.3 is the number of individuals and institutions with strengthened capacity. The selection of the Phoenix Energy Manager for the program is a direct measure of capacity-building at both the individual and institutional (City of Phoenix) level.
4. For SDG 17 Target:
   • An indicator for Target 17.17 is the formation and operation of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The NREL Executive Energy Leadership program, which involves various sectors (“government, corporate, nonprofit and community organizations”), serves as a concrete example and indicator of such a partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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