Alliance for Renewable Energy

Germany’s Key to Green Energy

The Christian Science Monitor just released a fascinating article on REPs. An excerpt:

The goal behind feed-in tariffs is to foster a growing network of small and medium-size energy producers. In Germany, at least a dozen communities now produce much or all of their own energy, using everything from ultrathin photovoltaic panels to cow manure. A few have gone even further. Residents of Dardesheim, a hamlet in the hardscrabble east, now own enough windmills to power 10,000-plus homes.

Supporters of the policy argue that such a grass-roots movement is the only way renewable energy will ever be deployed on a large scale. “The big energy companies have too many vested interests in sticking with conventional energy sources,” explains Hermann Scheer, a veteran parliamentarian who pioneered Germany’s feed-in tariff. “They will never be the driving force behind renewables.”

Read more.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user benefit of hindsight, shared under a Creative Commons license.)

EDF Files Testimony in Support of Florida REPs

On July 21, 2008, the Florida office of Environmental Defense Fund filed testimony calling for the state's Public Service Commission to consider Renewable Energy Payments as a means to implement Florida's Renewable Portfolio Standard.

EDF's Kellyn Eberhardt argued that feed-in tariffs are "a simple, elegant and effective economic mechanism for the mass adoption of renewable energy technologies in the shortest possible timeframe."

Previously, national environmental groups in Canada, such as the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute, have endorsed the policy. Several regional environmental groups in the Unites States, such as RENEW Wisconsin, and Sierra Club California, have also called for the policy.

Renewable Energy Payments, wrote EDF's Eberhardt, "encourage a stable investment by electricity ratepayers today toward a more sustainable and cheaper energy production in the future."

Read the official statement.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user lapstrake, shared under a Creative Commons license.)

Wisconsin Governor's Task Force Calls for Feed-in Tariffs

Governor Jim Doyle's Task Force on Global Warming has called for implementation of Renewable Energy Payments, also called Advanced Renewable Tariffs, to encourage the development of Wisconsin’s renewable energy resources. The recommendation is contained in a massive new report on how Wisconsin can reduce its emissions of global warming gases.  The recommendation is the first time that an advisory committee to a U.S. governor has formally endorsed the policy common in continental Europe. Read more.

Image courtesy of the report on Wisconsin's strategy for reducing global warming. Download the PDF here.

Fossil Fuel Interests F.U.D. Renewables!

IBM was a master of creating FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) tactics. Now it seems that utility companies (large businesses that buy fuels and produce and sell electricity), and fossil fuel corporations are adopting IBM’s old strategies. Why is the utility and fossil fuel industry suddenly interested in Solar? Do Utilities and fossil fuel corporations see solar and other renewable energy sources as a threat? Recent incidents in the USA highlight a disturbing pattern of active intervention by utilities and fossil fuel interests to maintain their market stranglehold to the detriment of reducing greenhouse gases and lowering energy prices.

The utilities are fighting to maintain their monopoly stranglehold of the electric market. Take for example Southern California Edison, SCE. In February 2008 they filed a request to implement a Renewable Energy Payment (REP) policy (also called a Feed-in Tariff (FIT)) through the California Public Utilities Commission. The proposed rate would allow SCE to receive 47¢ a kWh for electricity produced from their renewable energy installations with 700 MW or more production capacity. This rate would allow SCE to have a return on investment in under 4 years. At the same time SCE and Pacific Gas and Electric (PGE) opposed legislation that would allow residential solar producers from reselling any of their electricity back into the grid. What’s fair for one should be fair for another. If the Utilities demand 47¢ a kWh for their monopoly REP or FIT policies, there should be no opposition for homeowners to receive the same rate.

Recent proposed federal renewable energy legislation also has a built in bias that favors large corporations over homeowners and small renewable energy producers. Take for example S3335, one of seven recently failed energy and tax bills in the US Senate. Under the provisions of S3335, utilities and renewable energy corporations would be entitled to a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC), but homeowners would be prohibited from any investment tax credit larger than $4,000. This law would effectively give a 30% unfair monetary advantage to utilities and commercial interests to build large systems at the expense of residential taxpayers. Homeowners/voters would be financially constrained to install only a 2kW system or enough to provide only 40% of their energy needs.

Over 450 million people in over 40 countries operate under Renewable Energy Payment or Feed in Tariff policies. These laws provide incentives for everyone—homeowners, farmers, small and large businesses—to produce and sell renewable energy and are proven to stimulate the growth of renewables. Take Germany for example, 41% of their solar power comes from households, farms and small businesses. Overall, in only 4 years, they grew their domestic renewables (wind and solar) from one percent to 14%. In the US, several states have adopted or are considering REP legislation. In addition, a national Renewable Energy Payments bill, HR 6401, has been introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA). This legislation would take effect in all states and be supervised by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Again, the lobby organizations reflecting the utility interests are not supporting HR 6401. The rest of us need to.

By Norman Mann

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user sandman, shared under a Creative Commons license.)

Solar Power International 2008: North America’s Largest Solar Event

Solar Power International 2008, October 13-16, San Diego Convention Center.

Top vendors presenting the state-of-the-art in solar energy technologies and services; 60+ conference sessions and workshops; world-renowned CEO Panel plenary session; extensive exhibits and industry networking opportunities including manufacturers, project developers and contractors, electric utilities, and large buyers such as big box stores.

Solar Power 2008 will encompass the full range of solar energy technologies, including photovoltaics, concentrating photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, and solar hot water and space heating and cooling. Last year’s event sold out in advance, so organizers encourage early registration.

For more information visit: www.SolarPowerConference.com.