There are two important questions to consider when you are developing a community energy plan: 

1. Can you create or reposition existing community-owned economic development structures to hold the assets of the energy project?
    
2. Can you draw upon the human resources in your community to manage and deliver energy-related projects and initiatives?

Projects and initiatives in a community energy plan will fall into one of two broad categories:

1. energy efficiency and conservation
2. energy development, transmission and distribution.

The community energy planning process will help you to identify any internal gaps in technical, legal and financial experience, as well as any funding issues.

Technical, legal, financial, operational and other skills will be needed during all phases of planning, developing and operating an energy-related business.