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To strengthen ARE’s Feed-In Tariff (FIT) campaign in the U.S., the Columbia University team of 12 consultants has compiled a report entitled: “Renewable Energy Payments: A Policy Guide to Feed-In Tariffs in America.” Download the report.

Contents

I. Websites

II. Education and Outreach Resources

III. Research and Reports



I. Websites

Wind-Works - An extensive on-line archive of articles and commentary primarily--but not solely--on wind energy, FITs, and Advanced Renewable Tariffs.

Energy Autonomy and Local Economies
- "Energy Autonomy is an ambitious cinema project, designed to show how people throughout the world can be supplied with 100% renewable energy."

Green Energy Cafe - A forum for alternative energy knowledge.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance - Strengthening local communities for over 30 years.

Etopia News - Global news on energy, the environment, climate change, global warming, solar power, feed-in tariffs, electric cars, and green living.

Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy - Supporting the easiest energy choice Floridians can make, Feed-In Tariffs.

European Feed-in Cooperation

International Feed-in Tariff News Group

Californians for Feed-in Tariffs News Group

The Feed-In Tariff Channel - Audio and video interviews with policy leaders by Marc Strassman (Note: a video player will install on your browser)

Green Thoughts: Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Marketing by Micheal Hoexter

Green Energy War: Former California Energy Commisioner John Geesman blogs on global climate and energy politics

Windustry
- Promotes progressive renewable energy solutions and empowers communities to develop and own wind energy as an environmentally sustainable asset. Through member supported outreach, education and advocacy Windustry works to remove the barriers to broad community ownership of wind energy

World Future Council's Feed-in Tariff Pages

II. Education and Outreach Resources

Here are some resources that you can use when you are talking with individuals and groups about FITs. Please let us know if you use them.

FIT Postcard - Please use this postcard to spread the word about FITs and ARE

How a Feed-in Tariff Works - Simple, one-page document that can be easily copied and distributed. Created by Chris Neidle from Solar One in New York City.

Want to run a FIT Policy Workshop? Use the How-To Kit for a FIT Policy Workshop.

FITness Testing - Exploring the myths and misconceptions about Feed-in Tariff policies.

Advancing a Sustainable Solar Future - SEMI PV Group Policy Principles and Recommended Best Practices for Solar Feed-in Tariffs.

FIT Expert Roster - This is a comprehensive list of FIT experts whom you can contact for in-depth answers and expertise.

WDG FITs - Financing the Renewables Revolution Today This presentation by Craig Lewis contains a clear definition of Wholesale Distributed Generation (WDG) and is designed to convey why WDG is the most important market segment for unleashing renewables; and why a comprehensive FIT is the ideal mechanism to apply.

Renewable Energy Policy—Urgent Call to Action by Vicki Eckels, Residential Solar Producer, Florida. Vicki prepared this Power Point in August 2008 to show to her County Commissioners when she meets with them one-on-one to tell them about FITs and to get their support. She also plans to show it to local environment and energy groups. You can omit or change the one slide about Florida to meet your own needs. Special thanks to Vicki for preparing this useful tool.

Renewable Energy Payments for Florida - An easily adaptable presentation prepared by John Burges on FITs, which are also known as Renewable Energy Payments.

Renewable Energy Payment Presentation - A presentation prepared by EarthAction to inform people about FITs, which are also known as REPs.

Three Things You Can Do To Promote REPs - Print out EarthAction's flyer and hand it out!

Need for a WDG FIT in CA - Craig Lewis, VP of Government Relations for GreenVolt, gave this presentation on how FITs are needed in California and are key to unleashing the potential of Wholesale Distribution Growth. You can also view this presentation online, just go to the 3:38:30 time marker.

Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy - Talk by Mike Antheil on FARE.

Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air - by David MacKay. Free online download of very readable and accessible book, which provides clear methodologies for calculating potential renewable energy yields from various sources. In addition, virtually all diagrams are copyright free.

Some informational documents from Paul Gipe:

Feed In Tariff Primer 250 words.doc

Feed-in Tariffs What are They.doc

Advanced Renewable Tariffs What Are They.doc


Advanced Renewable Tariffs for North America.doc


Feed-in Tariffs Frequently Asked Questions.doc


Feed-in Tariff Primer.ppt
: A powerpoint presentation that describes feed-in tariffs and explains what they are and where they are being used.


III. Research and Reports

The following are research papers, mostly in direct-download PDF format.

The most easily-accessible and informative report for those who want both an introduction and in in-depth analysis of Feed-In Tariffs is "Renewable Energy Payments: A Policy Guide to Feed-In Tariffs in America."
Download the report.


1. FITs vs. RECs & RPS: The Proof is in the Pudding
- Comparing Fixed Price Incentives (FITs) and Quota and Auction Mechanisms (RPS, RECs)


Certificate trading – part of the solution or part of the problem? By Volkmar Lauber 2008

The Debate over Fixed Price Incentives for Renewable Electricity in Europe and the United States: Fallout and Future Directions by Wilson Rickerson and Robert C. Grace 2007

Prices for Renewable Energy in Europe: Feed in tariffs versus Quota Systems – a comparison by the European Renewable Energy Federation (2006-2007)

Five reasons for a feed-in model, five reasons against quota systems by Eurosolar 2006

Reflections on a Possible Unified EU Financial Support Scheme for Renewable Energy Systems (RES): A Comparison of Minimum-Price and Quota Systems and an Analysis of Market Conditions by European Renewable Energies Federation and the Worldwatch Institute 2005

Are green electricity certificates the way forward for renewable energy? An evaluation of the UK's Renewables Obligation in the context of international comparisons by David Toke  2005

Which system is more efficient? Minimum price system compared with the quota model background paper
by German Wind Energy Association (BWE) 2005

National Policy Instruments: Policy Lessons for the Advancement & Diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies Around the World by Janet Sawin 2004 

Renewable Energy Policy Mechanisms by Paul Gipe

Comparison of Feed in Tariff, Quota and Auction Mechanisms to Support Wind Power Development by Lucy Butler and Karsten Neuhoff 2004

Effectiveness through Risk Reduction: A Comparison of the Renewable Obligation in England and Wales and the Feed-In System in Germany by Mitchell et al

Risk, Innovation and Market Rules: A Comparison of the Renewable Obligation in England and Wales and the Feed-In System in Germany, 2002 by Mitchell et al

2.  With FITs, Green can be Gold in your Pocket - Jobs & Economic Impact

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World
- from the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Labour Organisation (2008)

Minnesota Feed-in Tariff Could Lower Costs, Boost Renewables, and Expand Local Ownership by John Farrel, Institute for Local Self Reliance (2008)

Progress Report 2007 Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2007 Progress Report

Impact of PV Generation on Power Quality in Urban Areas with High PV Population
supervised by Hermann Laukamp - Fraunhofer ISE (2008)

Utility Solar Assessment (USA) Study by Clean Edge (2008)

Supporting Solar Photovoltaic Electricity: An Argument for Feed-in Tariffs (2008)

Read some Hawaii Feed-In Tariff case studies.

Renewable Energy: Employment Effects - Impact of the Expansion of Renewable Energy on the German Labour Market (2006)

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety: EEG – The Renewable Energy Sources Act: The success story of sustainable policies for Germany by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) 2007

REN21 Renewables 2007 Global Status Report

The Merit-Order Effect: A Detailed Analysis of the Price Effect of Renewable Electricity Generation on Spot Market Prices in Germany by the Fraunhofer Institute Systems and Innovation Research (2007)

3. Hedge your Bets with FITs: Costs of Renewables vs. Fossil Fuel and Nuclear Sources

Gambling on nuclear power: How public money fuels the industry by the Global Subsidies Initiative

Forget Nuclear by Amory Lovins et. al 2008

Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources: what does it cost us? 2008

External costs of electricity generation from renewable energies compared to electricity generation from fossil energy sources
by Krewitt, W. and Schlomann, B.

Renewable Energy Sources Act - Progress Report 2007 - Background information: costs and benefits

New Nuclear Power: Implications for a Sustainable Energy System by Catherine Mitchell and Bridget Woodman, University of Warwick Business School (2006)

Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change Part IV: Policy Responses for Mitigation (2006)

Renewable Energy Sources are No Price Booster (2006)

4. FITs at their Best- policy designs options

Stability, participation, and transparency in renewale energy policy: Lessons from Denmark and the United States  - strong argument for the decentralization and democratization of renewable energy, as well as more transparent decision-making in the renewable energy sector.

The Role of Government in the Development and Diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies: Wind Power in the United States, California, Denmark, and Germany, 1970-2000 - a thesis paper by Janet Sawin

Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Energy in the USA-–a Policy Update by Wilson Rickerson, Florian Bennhold, and James Bradbury

Renewables without Limits: Moving Toward Advanced Renewable Tariffs by Updating Ontario's Groundbreaking Standard Offer Program - OSEA's New 2008 Report

Evaluating different feed-in tariff design options - Best Practice Paper for the International Feed-In Cooperation (2006)

WFC's Feed-in Tariff Design Guide

Pembina Institute, Canada [guide]

WFC [guide]

Exploring Feed-In Tariffs for California (2008)

Feed-In Tariffs and Renewable Energy in the USA - A Policy Update by Wilson Rickerson, Florian Bennhold, and James Bradbury (2008)

Feed-in Tariffs: Accelerating the Deployment of Renewable Energy - This book, by Miguel Mendonca, is a "concise introduction to feed-in laws, examining the experience of countries that have implemented this model. The author argues that the policy should be implemented anywhere with a suitable national power grid infrastructure, and identifies variations on the policy for those areas without. Alternative models and support schemes are examined to provide policy makers with the information required to consider the implementation of feed-in tariffs, and to introduce the concept to renewable energy technology manufacturers, producers, investors and supporters."

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