Small Business Owners Want Government Investment in Clean Energy

Small Business Majority released the results of an opinion poll last week that showed that small business owners are overwhelmingly in support of government investments in renewable energy and clean energy policies. The poll surveyed 600 small business owners in Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Among other results, the poll showed that 71% saw government investments in clean energy as a job creator. And 76% of the owners agreed that the EPA should determine the limits on new power plants' emissions of greenhouse gases. To see more of the results of this survey check out this article by the CEO of Small Business Majority on Huffington Post.

Vermont Increases Tariffs on Solar and Wind

Vermont recently introduced an increase in its tariff scheme for solar photovoltaic and wind turbines. After much discussion, (some it still ongoing) Vermont's Public Service Board (PSB) raised the solar PV tariff nearly 18%, and raised the tariff on small wind turbines almost 13 percent.

This increased tariff is not welcomed by the folks investing in, and encouraging investment in, renewable energy in Vermont. In fact,  according to this article authored by the principle of AllEarth Renewable, the over all performance of the state's renewable energy program has been fairly limited. And this tariff increase is another hindrance. Although a number of solar projects are slated for 2012, by the end of 2011, only 4 projects and one hydro project had been built. The article points out how underwhelming these numbers are, as it compares the state of Vermont As the article points out-  compared to Gainesville, Florida- which has installed double the amount of solar PVs with a population of only a fraction of Vermont's.

Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), a group advocating for increased investment in renewables, has argued that Vermont is moving too slowly with it's renewable programs and that they aren't achieving the standards outlined in the original legislation. REV has also disagreed with the manner in which the PSB has modeled the solar project performance and costs, and thus has found decisions  like this tariff increase misguided.   Review the PSB's calculations for yourself, and read  more here about REV's argument and  this ongoing debate that will likely impact investments in renewable energy in Vermont. 

Friends and Foes of RPS

Some policy makers are blaming economic woes for their stance against renewable portfolio standards. Angela Beniwal reports on these struggles in the article Tough Economic Times Make States Reconsider their Renewable Energy Policies.  

Maine introduced new legislation in 2011 to significantly reduce its RPS. Washington state proposed a bill in 2011 that would temporarily suspend the state's 15% by 2020 standard, and other states have expanded their definitions of renewable resources that count towards RPS, to include plasma gasification, waste to energy, nuclear and hydropower.

George "Chip" Cannon, a partner at Patton Boggs, LLP was quoted in this article voicing a sentiment often heard by opponents of RPS: "As long as we have a sluggish economy and the focus is on jobs, then we'll continue to see pushes against (RPS) portfolio implementations."

Economic woes seem like a convenient scapegoat these days. And given the abundant research now available illustrating the economic benefits and job growth renewable energy and portfolio standards create, it's  hardly the time to give up on RPS. Click here  and here for a few of those studies. If  the focus of our policy makers truly is jobs- then RPS should be front and center.

It's not all doom and gloom. Twenty nine states and Washington D.C. have established Renewable Portfolio Standards, and 8 states have voluntary goals or targets.  Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico (D) recently sponsored  the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2012- proposing a federal clean energy standard. The new bill would require that all large retail utilities (except in Alaska and Hawaii) obtain 24% of their electricity through clean energy sources. The bill further calls for an annual increase to the mandate by 3% through 2035. In addition, the bill isn't intended to replace or assert authority over current or future state mandates.

The new bill is most certainly ambitious, and although some don't consider it realistic in today's political climate it is widely considered a jumping off point for future discussions and bills regarding a federal mandate. As long as we have a sluggish economy and the focus is on jobs- we can't afford to be against RPS implementation!

GMU releases new study. Re-states: RPS has positive economic impact

George Mason University's  Center for Regional Analysis  just released a study today regarding Virginia's state of renewables. You can read more about it in the Washington Post.

The analysis was based on the 2010 Virginia Energy Plan, which projected a need for an additional 19,448 megawatts of demand over the next 25 years.  The study found that half of that demand could be met through biomass, solar and wind sources. The study also concluded that pursuing a portfolio of renewable power sources through 2035 would create tens of thousands more jobs than relying only on either coal or natural gas. 

It reminds me of a study done in Michigan a few years ago projecting the economic impact of RPS standards on the state of Michigan. The study, A study of Economic Impacts from the Implementation of a Renewable Portfolio Standard and an Energy Efficiency Program in Michigan,  was conducted by NextEnergy Center. 

This study concluded that a renewable portfolio standard of 15% by 2020 would lead to an increase in total gross state product in net present value of $533 million compared to projections with traditional  fuel generated power.  The same study projected  6,381 more jobs with the RPS than without and a reduction of CO2 emissions of over 27 millions of metric tons.

Click on the links to read more about these two studies or NREL's recent study about the economic impact of the 1603 Treasury grants for renewable energy. 

DC Commits to Amplified Sustainability

Washington, D.C. can already be considered a national leader in sustainability. The city has tripled its use of renewable energy since 2004, and boasts the nation's 2nd highest percentage of jobs in green goods and services. The attractive mass transit system, multitude of farmers markets, and abundant bike sharing make living green fairly easy in our nation's capital.  But this week, the Mayor of D.C., Vincent Gray made a commitment to amplify that sustainability. He unveiled his 20 year plan to make DC the healthiest, greenest most livable city in the United States. You can read the wholeplan here. But some of the highlights include:

• Cutting citywide energy consumption by 50%
• Increasing the use of renewable energy to 50%
• And cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50%.

 Ambitious? Yes. Admirable? Definitely.

Italy and Greece look to be solar power players

Despite of, or perhaps because of, Italy's economic troubles- the country is currently trying to push its renewable energy target up to 35% by 2020-  an ambitious jump of almost 10 percentage points.

The public discussion regarding the Renewable Energy Plan, currently occurring at the Ministries of Environment and  Economic Development is being interpreted as a positive sign for advocates of renewable energy. The provision s reportedly in the new plan include an annual subsidy limit of €200 million for solar projects over 6k; unlimited net metering for solar projects under 6kW; and an adjusted (reduced) Feed-in Tariff (FiT) of  €0.17/kWh.

Nearby, Greece is making similar moves, as the Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos recently named solar energy as a national priority. He also hopes to commit $25 billion to make Greece 100% powered by renewable energy.  Papademos recognizes a Greece comparative advantage in solar power- and plans to power its neighbors as well. However, according to EU Commissioner for Energy, Gunther Oettinger, Greece must significantly beef up its grid capabilities- first. Still it's widely accepted that the country could be the key to a trans-European electricity grid.

Read more about Italy and Greece's solar goals and power potential in this article by Steve Leone- Greece, Italy See Solar as Path to Economic Stability.

North Carolina plans for a renewable energy campus

Russell Thomas is planning North Carolina's first solar-powered business campus. The campus, in Asheville, NC, would consist of thousands of square feet of warehouse, office and retails space on a 12.5 acre tract of land. The campus, called Reems Creek Renewable Energy Campus, would generate enough electricity to power the campus and still have left-over power to feed back to the energy grid. 

Ideally businesses that manufacture and install solar systems would make the Reems Creek Campus home, but Thomas is also seeking other entities that value environmental sustainability for his spaces. The campus is still in planning phase, but you can see more about it at their website www.renewabilities.org/  or read  about it in the Asheville's Citizen Times here.