The Clean and Equitable Energy Development (CEED) Certificate Program, offered by Yale's Center for Business and the Environment, is an online certificate program designed to equip participants with the skills to develop and evaluate clean energy projects that deliver financial, social, and environmental benefits to local communities. It emphasizes scoping, designing, and developing projects while integrating energy justice principles from the planning stages, promoting long-term community resilience and economic empowerment. The program fosters a network of professionals addressing the interplay between clean energy, social equity, and climate change impacts, with applications opening in August 2025 and the next cohort starting in January 2026.

Core Content

The curriculum focuses on practical approaches to clean energy development, exploring how projects and supporting policies can prioritize community benefits. Key topics include recognizing energy injustice, promoting policies for a just energy transition, and designing initiatives that enhance local resilience. Participants are encouraged to bring a real or imagined clean energy project for evaluation, with content covering the complex relationships between development processes, social equity, and environmental outcomes. The program draws on real-world examples to illustrate opportunities for equitable energy systems and community empowerment.

Key Skills

Learners develop the ability to identify energy injustices, advocate for policies accelerating a just energy transition, and design or evaluate clean energy projects that deliver local benefits. The program builds competencies in scoping and developing projects with justice principles, assessing financial, social, and environmental impacts, and fostering community resilience. Graduates gain practical expertise in transforming energy systems to prioritize equity and sustainability, enabling them to contribute to initiatives that realize the opportunities of a clean energy transition.

Target Learners

This program is suited for working professionals, developers, and policymakers aiming to deepen expertise in clean energy development and energy justice. It also targets local leaders, advocates, and community members motivated to understand development processes and bring clean energy benefits to their areas. No specific prerequisites are required, making it accessible for those committed to equitable energy transformations.

Learning Format

Delivered fully online, the program operates on a cohort basis, with the next session beginning in January 2026 following applications opening in August 2025. It features interactive, practical learning focused on real-world project evaluation, allowing flexible participation while building a professional network.

Additional Benefits

Completers earn a certificate from Yale, enhancing credentials in clean energy and equity fields. Participants join a growing network of professionals for ongoing collaboration and receive email updates on program developments. For inquiries, contact CEED.certificate@yale.edu, supporting career advancement in sustainable energy roles.

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