Founded in 1982, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources. RMI is an international leader in identifying and catalyzing breakthroughs in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Our work is geared toward our vision of a world thriving, verdant, and secure, for all, for ever. RMI’s strategy is to transform the ways that we design and operate our transportation and electrical system, built environment and the industries that support our modern society.

What is Reinventing Fire?

Reinventing Fire, RMI’s largest initiative, will provide an inspiring and achievable vision and roadmap to a fossil fuel free economy by 2050. It focuses on four sectors—transportation, buildings, industry, and electricity—to address both the unique and interdependent issues that must be resolved to eliminate fossil fuel usage. Reinventing Fire’s rigorous research and synthesis takes a deep look at technology, design, strategy, and policy. From this analysis Reinventing Fire will lay out recommendations to help change perceptions of key business, financial, and military decision-makers so they understand that the shift away from fossil fuels is practical and affordable. Reinventing Fire also will outline how government can support this transformation through policy and regulation. Beyond changing perceptions, RMI will work closely with business leaders in the four sectors to influence their decision-making and help them start implementing the transition.

Why is Reinventing Fire important?

Our civilization’s fossil fuel use is at the center of urgent national and global challenges including:

• Economic instability, driven by volatile fuel prices and rising energy costs,
• Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions,
• National security concerns, driven by infrastructure vulnerability, and reliance on unstable nations.

These problems are deeply rooted, and current efforts to solve them have not proven sufficient. Reinventing Fire seeks to transform the national energy conversation from problems to solutions. It will show how, primarily with existing technologies, shifting away from fossil fuels makes economic sense. Overall, Reinventing Fire will help foster a competitive US economy, support a vibrant natural environment, and strengthen national security.

How is Reinventing Fire different from other efforts in this space?

Most existing studies and reports focus on the problems associated with fossil fuels, but are short on detailed solutions. Reinventing Fire will offer fact-based analyses and data-driven solutions that comprehensively address the serious barriers that retard a successful transition. Reinventing Fire has a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable generation. It does not rely on the government as the primary driver of change. It leverages the strength, speed, and flexibility of our market economy, supported by policy, to achieve its audacious goals.

The Ayrshire Foundation Grant

The Ayrshire grant is supporting RMI’s vision of eliminating U.S. fossil fuel use by 2050. By enabling RMI’s analysis of trends in the key sectors that utilize fossil fuels—transportation, buildings, electricity, industry—Ayrshire is contributing to RMI’s synthesis of the roadmap to a future free of fossil fuels.