The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business (Center), in partnership with Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Executive Education and the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Georgia Tech, is launching an Energy Management and Reporting course designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The course has been developed in response to a growing challenge: Large corporations increasingly need their suppliers to track and report energy and emissions data, yet many SMEs lack the resources and expertise to do so.
The Supply Chain Reporting Gap
The idea for the program emerged from conversations the Center team had with members of its collective action initiative, the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact (Compact), which includes about 80 companies. The Center’s Program Manager, Allison Bridges, who manages the course, heard repeatedly from large manufacturers that their suppliers were struggling to track and optimize how their energy is used so they can identify inefficiencies and free up resources for growth.
Effective energy practices also reduce exposure to volatile energy prices and position businesses to meet emerging customer and regulatory requirements.
“Large companies need suppliers to start reporting so they can keep track of Scope 3 emissions,” Bridges explained. Scope 3 emissions, or those generated in a company's value chain, represent the most challenging category to measure and report.
The urgency has intensified following the passing of California’s Senate Bill 253, which requires U.S. public and private companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue doing business in the state to report their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions annually. Scope 3 emissions reporting is set to begin in 2027, using the 2026 fiscal year’s data.
For SMEs, the challenge is significant. Many have limited staff with little to no background in energy management or reporting. While resources like the SME Climate Hub exist, smaller companies often lack the time to use them. Without the capacity to report emissions, Georgia SMEs risk losing their competitive position as suppliers to large corporations operating in global markets.
A Practical, Hands-On Approach
The course builds on the success of sustainability cohorts previously offered by the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which focused primarily on energy efficiency through energy bill analysis and building audits. Lead instructors Sandra Enciso and Randy Green, who taught those cohorts, designed an approach similar to consulting, where they visited companies and provided tailored recommendations.
The new four-month program adapts this model into a hybrid format that will help to accommodate participants from across Georgia, not just the Atlanta area. The curriculum includes three in-person meetings, three virtual sessions, and a final wrap-up.
Joining Enciso and Green as an instructor will be Robbie Moon, associate professor of accounting, who teaches sustainability reporting at Scheller College.
The seven sessions will cover topics such as energy principles, emissions accounting, reporting standards, energy review and improvement opportunities, compliance obligations, and sustainability leadership.
“The course is really about understanding the baseline for energy usage and reporting,” Bridges noted. The program emphasizes practical outcomes. Based on findings, participants can develop a roadmap to prioritize opportunities for improving operational efficiency to consume less energy.
Funding and Future Vision
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) is funding the first three cohorts through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, covering all tuition and fees for 18 months.
GEFA’s investment reflects its recognition that Georgia’s SME suppliers must start reporting emissions to remain competitive, as they sell into large global markets with increasing sustainability expectations.
David Eady, the Center’s director of industry engagement, said the course is part of a larger “SME accelerator” initiative within the Compact. The goal is to establish the course as a permanent offering of the Center.
For SMEs, the value proposition is clear: The free course can help them stay competitive through improved energy efficiency, cost savings, and the capacity to meet emerging reporting requirements. For the broader Georgia economy, the program represents an investment in maintaining the state’s position in global supply chains.
Information Session
An informational webinar is scheduled for November 12, 2025, for anyone interested in learning more about the program. The first time the course will be offered is January 2026.
The webinar will be recorded for those who cannot attend on November 12.
For more information, contact Allison Bridges or get more information by visiting our site.
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Written by Jennifer Holley Lux