Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (c3)
Organization Description
Founded in 2001, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public interest nonprofit dedicated to achieving a healthy, equitable, and low carbon future by advancing clean energy, energy efficiency, electrification, clean transportation and smart land use solutions in the southwestern United States. In collaboration with state and local governments, utilities, environmental and community groups, businesses, agencies, and others, SWEEP advocates for programs, policies, and funding to mitigate climate change and its impacts, support underserved and disadvantaged communities, and save people money on energy, housing and transportation costs. SWEEP has helped pass more than 160 state laws across the Southwest.
2026 Programs
SWEEP will work to advance a clean and equitable energy future in 2026 through three programs: 1) Utilities: Working to get utilities to invest in renewable energy resources, energy efficiency programs, and demand response efforts to reduce energy waste, utility bills, and emissions; 2) Buildings: Ensuring that homes and commercial buildings are constructed or retrofitted to be energy efficient and heated and cooled with clean electricity; and 3) Transportation: Electrifying the transportation sector; promoting multimodal alternatives like transit, biking, and walking; and advocating for smart land use and affordable infill housing to reduce travel costs, demand, and emissions.
2025 Programs
Despite federal funding cuts and rollbacks, SWEEP made important progress at the state and local levels in 2025, including: 1) Advancing the gas transition by helping set robust “Clean Heat” targets requiring CO gas utilities to reduce emissions 41% reduction by 2035, 2) Enabling low-income utility rates for resource-challenged NM customers, 3) Securing updated efficient, electric- and EV-ready building energy codes in communities across the Southwest, 4) Launching Housing Forward CO, a campaign to enable climate-friendly housing and smart growth, 5) Winning approval of a $1 billion grid modernization investment to support building and transportation decarbonization, and much more.
Budget Size: Medium: Previous year budget $1M - $3M
States Engaged: AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT
Geographic Coverage by Congressional District:
AZ-01, AZ-02, AZ-03, AZ-04, AZ-05, AZ-06, AZ-07, AZ-08, AZ-09, CO-01, CO-02, CO-03, CO-04, CO-05, CO-06, CO-07, CO-08, NV-01, NV-02, NV-03, NV-04, NM-01, NM-02, NM-03, UT-01, UT-02, UT-03, UT-04 Geographic Density Focus: Rural / Suburban / Small city (<100k), Urban – Large city or suburb of large city (>100k)
Core Constituencies: State Legislators, Other
Leadership Diversity: Women-led
Staff and Volunteer Balance: Staff powered - Little to no volunteers involved in executing programs
Top Priority Issues: State policy advocacy, Clean energy, Climate change
Lead Contact:
Elise Jones, Executive Director, she/her, ejones@swenergy.org
Last Updated: March 27, 2026

