If you are a...
Policy Maker
the benefits are:
• No funding necessary
• No administration, only program oversight
• Only costs ratepayers money if it works
• Creates massive economic boost:
• Creates new permanent employment base
• Creates perpetual government tax income (sales, property, income)
• Achieves environmental goals/directives (GHG)
• Best return for money invested
• Designed to lower utility prices in future years
• Promotes expediency in reaching “grid parity”
Utility
the benefits are:
• Ratepayer borne investment – all costs captured
• Revenue opportunities exist in financing, equipment sales, and service
• Distributed generation
• Control the power coming onto the grid
• Lower portfolio generation costs by using free energy sources long-term
• Payments set and adjusted to promote favorable technologies
• Lower GHG emissions and achieve “greening” of operations
Renewable Energy Company (Solar, Wind, Bio, etc.)
the benefits are:
• Inclusion of all market segments (residential/small commercial, commercial, industrial, utility)
• No need for federal tax incentives (unless desired)
• Not a subsidy – a ratepayer investment in future bill stability
• No annual quotas – market based
• Periodic review for optimal performance
• Pricing degression placed on manufacturers
• High growth
• Customer financing by traditional banking institutions
• Little government interference
• Priority access to grid and transmission systems
NGO
the benefits are:
• Progress towards Environmental goals (GHG)
• Reduces need for transmission lines (distributed generation source)
• Lessens environmental damage from fossil fuel exploration and mining such as oil, coal, natural gas, and lignites
• Promotes long-term local employment and betters local economies
Member of the Business Community
the benefits are:
• Additional source of income (building and property owners)
• Banks can easily finance
• Great source of American jobs for contractors, electricians, manufacturers, business professionals, financiers, service organizations, etc.
• Help promote a cleaner future
• Increase the health of local economies
Individual & Community
the benefits are:
• Source of household income – anyone can be an entrepreneur
• Income from Renewable Energy stays in the community
• We invest a few dollars now to get lower utility bills in the future
• On-site generation for our homes and businesses if desired (no utility bills)
• Better the lives of our children by creating a sustainable future
• Better health for everyone; clean air, land, and water. Less asthma, cancer, other health problems
• Reduce the use of polluting fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas
• Keep nuclear plants out of our back yards
• Support local jobs -- creates well paying permanent jobs in our local economies (engineers, manufacturing, installation, etc.)
• Increase national security -- stop sending our money to foreign countries for fuel
• Reduce Green House Gases to stop global warming and mitigate species loss/extinctions (polar bears, etc.)
