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Indiana Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (IN R-STEP)

Indiana is experiencing an energy transition with an increasingly diverse electricity generation fuel mix and new technologies. Through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2024, Indiana Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (IN R-STEP) was formed to help communities navigate these changes through informed local decision-making. Led by Purdue Extension Community Development, the IN R-STEP collaborative serves as a technical resource and engagement hub, providing data, planning tools, educational resources, and research-based information related to utility-scale renewable energy development. Through the network of partners, IN R-STEP offers online resources, peer networking opportunities, webinars, workshops, tours and community engagement support.

Midwest Agrivoltaics for Resilient Communities (MARC)

Midwest Agrivoltaics for Resilient Communities (MARC) is a regional weather resilience incubator funded in 2025 by the National Science Foundation. MARC is based at Purdue University, with support from the Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future. MARC explores the potential of agrivoltaics, the co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation, to strengthen the economic resilience and energy security of rural Midwestern communities. By producing both food and energy on the same land, agrivoltaics can help diversify and stabilize landowner income, reduce power outages, and support long-term community prosperity. MARC brings together partners from agriculture, energy and local communities to serve as a source of trusted information for supporting agrivoltaics decision-making.