What's in a Name?

Countries in Europe where the policy we are promoting has been widely and successfully implemented, call this policy a feed-in-tariff (FiT). In Germany, ‘tariff’ means ‘rate’, and ‘feed-in’, means ‘to feed renewable energy into the grid’.  Here in North America, a ‘tariff’ sounds like a tax, and ‘feed-in’ sounds like a buffet binge, so FITs are being renamed. These North American names include: Standard Offer Contracts (SOCs), Advanced Renewable Tariffs (ARTs), Renewable Energy Rates (RE Rates), and Renewable Energy Dividends (REDs). Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) first introduced this policy in the US House of Representatives under the label “Renewable Energy Payments,” which is the term ARE has been using. It is essential to note that Renewable Energy Payments, feed-in tariffs, and the other terms listed above all refer to the same mechanism or type of incentive renewable energy policy.