Communities with abundant renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, can harness these resources to provide power to the community, thereby reducing the amount of nonrenewable energy that is purchased and hence the demand on power supplies. In addition, renewable energy systems are largely non-polluting.

The new Americans for Solar Power - PV Manufacturers Alliance launched by leaders from the solar power industry in March 2005, aims to establish thriving, sustainable mainstream markets for cost-effective distributed solar power, through policy and regulatory initiatives that lead to robust market growth. The alliance, based in Arizona, is dedicated to helping the United States achieve an annual 1-gigawatt market for distributed solar power by 2010.

Congress approved a bill in September 2004 that will extend the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) through the end of next year. The PTC was included in a major tax package that President Bush is expected to sign. The PTC provides a tax credit of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (in 1992 dollars, adjusted for inflation) for power produced by wind turbines. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the PTC extension will allow wind energy investments of about $3 billion to move ahead over the next several years.

A new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. finds that aggressive programs to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy could reduce the demand for natural gas enough to cause a 10 to 20 percent drop in wholesale natural gas prices. The study, Impacts of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on Natural Gas Markets estimates a potential to reduce U.S. natural gas consumption by 1.1 percent within a year using energy efficiency, and to reduce U.S. natural gas consumption by 5.5 percent by 2008, using a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy. By easing supply constraints, such apparently minor reductions in demand could yield significant price reductions, according to the report, saving consumers and businesses more than $75 billion over the next five years.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on wind energy development in September 2004. The report assesses the environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with wind energy development on BLM-administered lands in 11 western states, and evaluates various management approaches for the BLM to mitigate potential impacts while facilitating wind energy development.

DOE announced in March 2004 its intention to expand the use of wind power in the United States, and sees significant potential in areas with wind speeds that are too low to tap economically with today's wind turbines—areas with average annual wind speeds of about 13 miles per hour. To allow wind power projects in these areas, DOE is establishing
21 partnerships with public and private entities to develop low-wind-speed wind turbines. The program includes conceptual design studies and the development of both turbine components and complete wind turbines, and DOE expects the total investment in the partnerships to total $60 million over the next four years. The wind energy resources that DOE intends to capture through the new partnerships are currently considered "marginal" or "poor" wind resources. Harvesting wind power from these sites will open up much of the United States to wind power, excluding only the Southeast. See the press release.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham joined China's Science and Technology Minister Xu and Beijing's Vice Mayor Fan in January 2004 to sign the Green Olympic Protocol for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. DOE and China signed a Statement of Intent on Green Olympics cooperation in September 2002, and since then the two countries have established 11 teams to move forward on the agreement. Two joint working group meetings were successfully held in Beijing in 2002 and 2003, leading to new proposals for cooperation. The new protocol transforms the Statement of Intent into a legally binding international agreement.

APS, Arizona's largest electric utility, announced in February 2004 that it will partner with Western Wind Energy Corporation to build the state's first commercial wind power plant. The Eastern Arizona Wind Energy Center will consist of ten 1.5-megawatt wind turbines for a total generating capacity of 15 megawatts. APS expects construction to begin in September 2004, and the plant should begin producing power before year-end.

In Kansas, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has requested Lee Allison, chair of the State Energy Resources Coordinating Council (SERCC) to appoint a task force to study and make recommendations about the process of siting eindpower Projects in the Flint Hills/Tallgrass Prairie region of the state. According to this article on SolarAccess.com, Kansas is ranked the number one state in potential wind resources when existing transmission availability was factored in.

New York officials have unveiled plans for the Freedom Tower—the
centerpiece of new construction at the World Trade Center site— including plans to incorporate wind turbines that will generate 20 percent of the building's electrical power needs. The Freedom Tower will be the world's tallest building and will incorporate state-of-the-art safety systems, far exceeding New York City's building code requirements. Topping a 60-story base that will include office space and other amenities, a lacy structure of tension cables will rise to 1,500 feet and will include the wind turbines.

Also an issue in New York is integrating wind energy into the utility grid. The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) is developing a minimum requirement for renewable power generation in the state—also known as a renewable portfolio standard (RPS)—and wants to know how much wind power could be integrated into the power system without harming reliability. According to a preliminary assessment prepared by GE Power Systems Energy Consulting, the state should be able to provide 10 percent of its peak power load from wind power without any adverse impacts, or about 3,300 megawatts of wind power.

The State of Washington's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) recently announced that it will use its one million dollar federal challenge grant to fund the local acquisition and management of wind generation. The Bellingham, Washington-based A World Institute for a Sustainable Humanity (A W.I.S.H.) will implement the CTED-administered project. The generated power would go to power companies in exchange for rebates and discounts for low-income Washingtonians to pay for a part of their power needs. See the press release.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) held its inaugural examination for installers of solar photovoltaic (PV) electric systems in late October 2003. Nearly 100 candidates took the exam, which was administered at 14 sites around the country. The voluntary exam is meant to instill consumer confidence in the men and women who install expensive solar equipment on the roofs of homes and businesses, connect that equipment to the building's power supply (often providing power for sensitive electronic components), and frequently connect it to the power grid as well. NABCEP has already received strong interest in its next PV Installers Certification Exam, which will be held on April 17, 2004. Applications for that exam are due in January.

New wind power plants went online in October 2003 in the Great Plains states of North and South Dakota -- the first large wind facilities in those states -- while construction began on a new large wind plant on the plains of western Colorado. Both North and South Dakota gained 40 megawatts of wind power as FPL Energy completed the North Dakota I Wind Energy Center and the South Dakota Wind Energy Center. Basin Electric Power Cooperative is buying all the power from the two sites, each of which draws on 27 1.5-megawatt wind turbines manufactured by GE Wind Energy.

Also in October, FPL Energy completed its second wind project in North Dakota, the North Dakota II Wind Energy Center, a 21-megawatt project that will provide power to the Otter Tail Power Company. The facility consists of 14 of the 1.5-megawatt GE Wind Energy turbines.

Canada's minister of natural resources, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced that Canada intends to join the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. Secretary Abraham proposed the hydrogen partnership in April during his speech to the International Energy Agency Ministerial Meeting. Several other countries have shown interest in joining the partnership. Read more.

When New York State needed to recover from the August 2003 blackout, it turned to hydropower. Hydroelectric power plants have the ability to start generating power without help from any external power source and to produce power immediately. In contrast, nuclear and fossil-fuel power plants require significant startup times, and nuclear power plants are not permitted to operate while the power grid is not energized. According to the National Hydropower Association, hydropower facilities were the first to be placed in operation in order to establish a stable power grid, the critical first step in restoring power to the region. See the press release. Energy conservation also played an important role during the recovery, as power supplies remained tight for several days after the blackout.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in July 2003 funding for three projects that will bring more renewable energy to Alaska and Hawaii. In Hawaii, more than $1.1 million will go towards installing 300 solar hot water systems on the island of Molokai that will typically cut electrical bills by 45 percent. In Alaska, nearly $400,000 will go towards a small hydroelectric plant in Atka, replacing expensive diesel fuel as a power source and providing electricity for the town's seafood processing plant. Another $2.5 million will go to the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC), in part to help fund four new 50-kilowatt wind turbines to be installed in Chevak. The Chevak project will also include a new 1,570-kilowatt diesel-fired power plant with a heat recovery system, allowing the cooperative to make use of 50 percent of the energy in the diesel fuel. The projects are part of $14.9 million in grants awarded by USDA's High Energy Cost Program, which aims to improve energy services in rural areas with high energy costs. Read more.

DOE has announced that Italy intends to join its International Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy. Italy has a well-developed research and development program that addresses hydrogen and fuel cell applications in vehicles and for electric power. The Italian government plans to cooperate with the United States on investigations of hydrogen production, storage, and transport, as well as end-use technologies and codes and standards. Read more.

The group of eight leaders of large industrialized countries, known simply as the G8, recently set forth plans to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy development around the world. The early-June G8 Summit, which brought together the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and France, resulted in a document that noted "the need ... to support the development of cleaner, sustainable and more efficient technologies." The document commits to promoting energy efficiency and encouraging rapid innovation and market introduction of clean energy technologies. To increase the share of renewable energy in global energy use, and to accelerate the development of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, the G8 emphasizes collaborative research with an emphasis on achieving competitive energy prices. The G8 will also encourage the Global Environment Fund to increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable energy use when setting up its programs. See the action plan.

The United States and Russia have signed a new Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The protocol was signed during a meeting of the U.S./Russia Energy Working Group (EWG), which was established by President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May 2002. The protocol provides a framework and establishes a coordinating committee for the two countries to work together on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The protocol is available online.

The Michigan Public Service Commission is providing a $3 million grant for FuelCell Energy, Inc. to install one of its 250-kilowatt fuel cell systems at the new Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon. To be completed this fall, the fuel cell power plant will be integrated with a heat recovery system for heating and air conditioning, a solar electric system, and a nickel-metal-hydride battery system, allowing the new 26,000-square-foot building to power itself.

The Grand Canyon Trust, a group working to clean up the air around Grand Canyon and across the Colorado Plateau, has installed a 1.44-kilowatt solar system on its headquarters building in Flagstaff, Arizona. The system, which will generate some of the electricity needed by the building, includes a tracking component that tracks the sun throughout the day, improving the system's efficiency by some 25 percent. The Trust plans to eventually expand the system to 5 kilowatts.

President Bush has released his administration's proposed $2.2 trillion federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2004. According to the President, the budget meets the challenges posed by three national priorities: winning the war against terrorism, securing the homeland, and generating long-term economic growth. Despite these three priorities, the budget maintains funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. It assumes enactment of the energy tax incentives proposed in the President's 2003 budget, including tax credits for the use of solar power in residences and for purchases of hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. It also proposes a two-year extension in tax credits for electric vehicles, clean-fuel vehicles, and power produced from certain renewable energy sources (the so-called "production tax credit"). Read more.

The use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies should accelerate in Nevada, thanks to the Nevada Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Task Force. The task force, established in November 2001 to administer the state's Trust Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, released its first legislative report in Jaunary 2003. According to that report, the task force plans to work with the Nevada State Energy Office to improve renewable energy resource assessment and examine solutions to power transmission constraints within the state. The task force will also examine credit trading systems for renewable power producers, evaluate market incentives, consider new energy codes for buildings, and expand the state's public outreach efforts. Read more.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney announced plans in January 2003 to use the state's Renewable Energy Trust Fund to encourage economic development while supporting renewable energy technologies. The governor awarded $9 million to five renewable energy companies and established a new $15-million Green Energy Fund to provide equity capital, loans, and management assistance to the state's renewable energy businesses. Learn more.

Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) announced in early January 2003 its launch of a new subsidiary that will invest in renewable energy projects for Hawaii. Called Renewable Hawaii, the new subsidiary will be initially capitalized at a level of $10 million. In 2002, HECO and its neighbor island subsidiaries generated 7 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. Read more.

Also in Hawaii, a joint project, the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) of the University of Hawaii’s School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Navy Region Hawaii, and Hawaiian Electric Company have announced plans to develop the largest photovoltaic project in Hawaii at 2 to 3 megawatts in size. Read more.

Since 1995, Carleton College (Minnesota) has aggressively pursued energy conservation measures. By September 2003, the college plans to install one 1.5 MW turbine (producing about 5 million kWh of electricity per year). RENew Northfield, a local non-profit organization, has been working with them on this project which is being developed collaboratively with the Northfield Public Schools, which also plans to have a 1.5 MW turbine up and running by the same date. In addition, RENew Northfield has begun meeting with a group of local investors in an attempt to do a third 1.5 MW project. The payback period for these investments appears to be under 10 years and the cash flow on them positive from day one. Learn more.

Six energy-efficient, solar-powered homes are about to be built in Atlantic City, New Jersey, thanks primarily to gambling revenues. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority announced in November 2002 that six homes in the Millennia Square neighborhood, developed by the authority, will "approach a zero net utility cost to homeowners." The authority was established by the state in 1984 to funnel a portion of gambling revenues into projects that revitalize Atlantic City and other parts of the state. Read more.

The City of San Francisco in November 2002 awarded the first contract under its voter-approved solar bond initiative. PowerLight Corporation will install a 675-kilowatt solar power system on the roof of the city's Moscone Center, a convention center, to generate about 825 megawatt-hours of electricity each year. In addition, energy efficiency improvements will save about 4,500 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. Read more.

DOE releases its strategic plan for energy efficiency and renewable energy on November 7, 2002. As spelled out in the strategic plan, EERE aims to dramatically reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, reduce the burden of energy prices on the poor, increase the viability and deployment of renewable energy technologies, increase the reliability and efficiency of our nation's electrical power systems, increase the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances, increase the energy efficiency of industry, and spur the creation of a domestic bioindustry. The office also looked inward and pledged to change the way it does business.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently issued its draft report on the renewable energy resource potential for power production on federal lands. The report notes 64 public land areas in 11 western states that have a high potential for power production from one or more renewable energy sources, and of those, 19 land areas in 6 western states could draw on three or more renewable energy sources. Read more.

Michigan Ethanol, LLC completed construction of the first ethanol production plant in Michigan in October 2002. The new facility, located outside of Caro, Michigan, will process nearly 16 million bushels of corn each year, producing 40 million gallons of ethanol. Wisconsin also gained an ethanol plant in October, as Badger State Ethanol LLC finished construction on a corn-to-ethanol plant that will also produce 40 million gallons of ethanol each year. The new plant, located near Monroe, is the largest ethanol plant in the state.

AstroPower, Inc. and Clarum Homes announced in June 2002 a new agreement that will make solar electric systems a standard feature on homes in two northern California communities. AstroPower will provide 277 solar electric systems over the next three years for homes in the new Clarum communities of Vista Montana in Watsonville and Shorebreeze IV in East Palo Alto. The systems will be a standard feature on every home and will range from 1.2 to 3.2 kilowatts in generating capacity. Clarum will also include energy efficiency features in the new homes that, combined with the solar electric system, should reduce energy use in the homes by 60 percent relative to comparable homes in the area. Read more.

Homes in southeastern Pennsylvania may feature a growing number of solar electric installations through an incentive program launched last month by the Energy Cooperative. The Philadelphia-based company is offering to pay consumers 20 cents per kilowatt-hour for power produced by solar electric systems installed on their homes. The Cooperative's goal is to purchase 100,000 kilowatt-hours of solar power by the end of this year. To take advantage of the program, customers must be members of the Energy Cooperative and must purchase the Co-op's "EcoChoice 100" brand of 100 percent renewable energy. The system must meet specific criteria and must include a separate meter to measure its output. Learn more.

The 38.7-kilowatt White Bluffs Solar Station is now online in Richland, Washington. The largest such facility in the Northwest, the solar station is owned and operated by Energy Northwest. DOE's Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) will integrate the power from the system into its electrical grid, while the Bonneville Environmental Foundation will sell green tags from the project. DOE contributed $30,000 toward the project through its "Brightfields" program. Learn more.

The Hawaiian Electric Company and the University of Hawaii's Natural Energy Institute announced in May 2002 a partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and its affiliate, the Electricity Innovation Institute, to develop clean energy technologies. The partnership will focus on emerging renewable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sensitive energy applications, including distributed generation, on-site, central station, and transportation technologies. Read more.

Helped by generous financial incentives, California continues to rack up news of large-scale solar power installations. Berkeley-based PowerLight Corporation is responsible for the largest two systems: a 127-kilowatt roof-integrated system at the U.S. Postal Service's mail processing and distribution center in Marina del Rey, and a 1.18-megawatt system on the roof of the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. PowerLight claims that the jail system, dedicated on Earth Day, is the largest rooftop solar power system in the United States.

In Lincoln, California, a new housing development will feature at least 50 rooftop solar power systems, thanks to an agreement between AstroPower, Inc. and Premiere Homes. AstroPower's 2.4-kilowatt system will be a standard feature in the new homes, and buyers will have the options of adding a battery storage system and expanding the system to 3.2 kilowatts. The companies plan to build 250 homes that include solar power by 2003. Read more.

A new solar power system was added in South Jersey in mid-May 2002. A 52-kilowatt solar electric system was installed on the roof of BJ's Wholesale Club in Deptford, New Jersey. The New Jersey Clean Energy Fund provided financial support for the facility. Read more.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) in Oregon made a substantial commitment to renewable energy in May 2002 with its purchase of 25 megawatts of wind power from the Stateline Wind Energy Center. EWEB signed a 25-year contract with PacifiCorp Power Marketing, Inc., owner of the entire output of the wind plant, which is located on the Washington-Oregon border. EWEB's purchase will equal the annual power needs of about 4,800 homes, or about 2.5 percent of the utility's retail electricity needs. The utility will sell the power to its customers through its green power program. Learn more.

In Arizona, APS--the state's largest electric utility--dedicated a new 300-kilowatt solar electric system in Scottsdale in May 2002. The new facility is supported in part by APS customers through the APS Solar Partners program. APS plans to reach 3 megawatts of installed solar power capacity by the end of 2003. Read more.

A study released on Earth Day 2002 suggests that offshore wind turbines could supply much of Long Island, New York's, power needs in the future. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is acting on the study and plans to solicit wind energy proposals by year-end. The study, commissioned by LIPA and the New York Energy Research and Development Authority, determined that the best wind option for Long Island is a 314-square-mile area of shallow ocean waters located east of Montauk Point and three to six nautical miles off Long Island's south shore. According to the study, as much as 5,200 megawatts of wind capacity could be built there with minimal environmental impact. Read more.

In Illinois, a $2.75 million grant from the state's Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund will go toward developing a 50-megawatt wind facility in Mendota, located about 80 miles west of Chicago. The Mendota Hills Wind Farm is expected to add $50 million to the local tax base and provide $130,000 in annual lease payments to area landowners, while generating enough power to meet the annual electricity needs of 15,000 households. The wind turbine installations should begin in 2003. Learn more.

Renewable energy systems can play an important role in remote communites with no power, as well. Some 80 communities on the Navajo Nation gained Internet connections and telecommunications services using the latest in satellite and wireless technology. Because these sites--Native Americans sites in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah--are in remote areas with no power, solar electric systems were installed to provide enough energy to power the communications system. According to STM Wireless, Inc. and OnSat Network Communications, Inc., a total of 115 satellite systems will be installed on Native American lands through funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Solar Electric Light Fund is providing funding for the solar electric systems. Learn more.

The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER) released in February 2002 its final renewable energy portfolio regulation, which sets a minimum requirement for generating electricity from new renewable energy sources. The regulation requires all retail electricity providers in the state to draw on new renewable energy sources for at least one percent of their power supply in 2003, increasing to four percent by 2009. The state mandated the renewable energy regulation in its Electric Utility Industry Restructuring Act, enacted in 1997. Read more.

The State of New York is also pressing ahead with plans to encourage renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency. The state's draft energy plan, now being reviewed in public hearings, includes plans to solicit long-term contracts for electricity from renewable energy sources, examine the feasibility of a requirement similar to Massachusetts' new regulation, help create a biofuels industry in the state, and encourage the use of distributed generation and combined heat and power technologies. The plan also proposes a statewide energy efficiency standard, voluntary energy-efficiency agreements with businesses, efforts to encourage alternative modes of transportation, and programs to promote energy efficiency in buildings. The plan specifically suggests a coordinated effort to include energy efficiency and other green building principles in rebuilding efforts in New York City. Learn more.

Communities also are encouraging the use of renewable energy through funding opportunities and other incentives. For example, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in early 2001 approved a proposal to fund new energy efficiency and renewable energy programs with $358 million over the next three years. The funds will be raised through a surcharge of less than 1 percent for most New Jersey electricity customers. Three quarters of the funds will go toward energy efficiency programs and one quarter will go toward renewable energy programs. The renewable energy programs will include rebates directly to customers who install "clean technologies such as fuel cells, solar electric systems and wind generators in their homes and businesses." For more information, see the Clean Energy for New Jersey website.

Minnesota's State Energy Office is offering a rebate program that pays up to 25 percent of installation costs for a photovoltaic system. The program provides a rebate of $2,000 per kilowatt for 1 to 4 kilowatts of grid-connected solar-electric installations. During the four-year program, approximately $1 million will be spent to install 400 kilowatts of grid-connected solar-electric systems. Additionally, solar panels purchased before August 1, 2005, are exempt from state sales tax. Learn more.

In Massachusetts, state officials announced in February 2002 that they have awarded $776,900 to seven school districts throughout the state to fund the design of energy- and resource-efficient projects in new and renovated schools. Renewable and energy efficient technologies, including fuel cells, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass, will be incorporated into the school design and renovations throughout the seven districts. Read more.

For more information on the many solar schools project across the country, see the Schools Going Solar website.

Wind Powering America is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative to increase the use of wind energy in the U.S. The initiative sets a goal of providing 5 percent of the nation's electricity from wind power by 2020, with the federal government leading the way by buying 5 percent of its electricity from wind power by 2010. The initiative also aims to expand the number of states in which wind power is being generated.

CREST’s GEM database offers a comprehensive, on-line review of state-by-state renewable energy and sustainable development resources. Case studies, products and services, utility information, programs and policies, energy usage and design data are included for each state.

Success Stories

For additional success stories, see the Community Energy Success Stories page.

The Acme Building in Billings, Montana, is a historic building that, after being vacant and closed for two decades, will reopen in 2004 as an apartment building. The renovation of the building was directed by homeWORD, a local nonprofit who purchased the building several years ago and financed the renovation through loans and city help, as well as tax credits. The building houses 19 new apartments for lower income tenants, is partially built with recycled materials, incorporates energy efficiency techniques, and is powered by the largest solar array in the state.

BJ's Wholesale Club
A new solar power system was added in south New Jersey in mid-May 2002. A 52-kilowatt solar electric system was installed on the roof of in Deptford, New Jersey. The New Jersey Clean Energy Fund provided financial support for the facility.

Chariton Valley Biomass Project
John Deere announced in late 2001 support of a groundbreaking project in central Iowa to generate electricity from switchgrass. Switchgrass is a common prairie grass grown on marginal farmland throughout many parts of North America. Its high energy output per acre of harvested crop makes it an attractive crop for energy production.The Chariton Valley Biomass Project involves more than 80 farmers managing 7,000 acres of switchgrass.

City of San Diego Police Department Headquarters
The City of San Diego announced in March 2003 a $3.6 million energy efficiency project at its police headquarters building. The project will incorporate both energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.

Concordia University will become the first university in the nation to power its campus completely on renewable energy. The University will purchase all of its energy--5.5 million kilowatt-hours annually--through Austin Energy's "Green Choice" program. Although several other universities have committed to using green power for a percentage of their energy consumption, Concordia is the first to announce that it will be powered entirely by renewable energy. The University plans to offset the anticipated $5,000 cost premium through energy conservation measures on campus.

Dairyland Power Cooperative and Eau Claire Energy Cooperative announced in April 2004 that a new 3-megawatt landfill-gas-to-energy project is now online in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dairyland is buying the waste gas from the Seven Mile Creek Landfill and converting it into electricity in a facility designed and built by Ameresco. Dairyland is also working to install anaerobic digesters at several dairy farms in its service territory. The digesters convert manure into a biogas that is used to produce electricity, and are expected to begin producing power later in 2004.

In California, BP Solar installed 9,700 solar panels on the roofs of 11 stables at the Del Mar Fairgrounds near San Diego, providing a combined peak generating capacity of one megawatt. The $4.8 million project will produce enough power each year to equal the annual electrical needs of 300 homes and is expected to save the fairgrounds more than $250,000 per year. The San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) provided an incentive of nearly $2.3 million for the project.

Grand View Estates, in Clear Lake, California, is a new (2004) 90-home community that features energy-efficient, solar homes, each with a 2.5-kilowatt solar power system. The modular homes are highly insulated and include low-emissivity windows and Energy Star appliances. The homes are also "affordable" by California standards: only $230,000 each, with the added advantage of low utility bills. Typical utility bills in the area are $150 to $400 per month, but the unique combination of solar and energy efficiency are expected to reduce utility bills by as much as 75 percent.

Green LA
A new program in Los Angeles, California, that focuses on solar energy. The program provides financial incentives to encourage customers to install PV systems to generate clean electricity. These incentives offset customer costs for the systems by an average of 50 percent.

An all-solar community planned for Arizona will include 487 off-grid homes. The new GreenWood Ranch Estates development near Kingman, Arizona, lacks one feature most developments take for granted: power lines. Every "ranchette" in the 487-home community isequipped with a 1.65-kilowatt solar power system; when all the homes are built, the community will have a combined solar power capacity of just over 800 kilowatts. Each home uses propane to fuel its furnace, refrigerator, and range and oven, and includes an electric water heater that can be upgraded to propane.

High Winds Energy Center -- California
California's new High Winds Energy Center had a capacity of 150 megawatts when it was dedicated on September 18, 2003, but it will be expanded to 162 megawatts before the end of the year. PPM Energy, Inc. is buying all the power from the project and selling it wholesale to cities throughout the state.

KD Development -- San Diego, California
A large San Diego homebuilder has joined forces with Altair Energy to bring PV systems to hundreds of residential customers in California. Some 400 PV systems are expected to be installed within the next year.

Lowe's Companies, Inc., completed installation of a 370-kilowatt solar power system on the roof of its West Hills store in Los Angeles, California, in fall 2003. The system, said to be the largest retail solar system in the U.S., cover 37,500 square feet of the store's roof and will produce enough electricity during the daytime to power more than 370 homes.

McDonald's -- Long Island, New York
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) installed a 5-kilowatt fuel cell system at a McDonald's restaurant, in March 2003--the first of 45 new fuel cell systems to be installed across Long Island this year.

Napa Winery Domaine Carneros
Domaine Carneros’ new Pinot Noir winery in Napa is home to a new (Jue 2003) solar system. The installation, which features a 120 kilowatt solar electrical system, is the largest solar photovoltaic installation at a U.S. winery. The system generates enough electricity to substantially reducing Domaine Carneros’ operating costs.

New Mexico Wind Energy Center
The New Mexico Wind Energy Center, dedicated on October 1st, is the world's third-largest wind power facility. The Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) is buying all the power from the project for sale to its customers through the "PNM Sky Blue" green power program.

Portland Sewage Plant Powered with Biogas
A sewage treatment facility is supplying its own power from methane generated during the sewage treatment process. The plant recently installed four microturbines to burn biogas from a previously installed fuel cell that converts biogas into energy. The micro-turbines burn the gas to provide electricity and heat used in plant operations. The project is part of the Portland Office of Sustainable Development's City Energy Challenge (CEC), which claims to have reduced Portland's energy costs by more than $2 million per year.

Renewable Energy Mitigation Program
The city of Aspen and Pitkin County, Colorado, have crafted a local response to global warming with an innovative tax on energy consumption that has raised more than $2 million for local energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Launched in 2000, the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program requires homeowners who wish to exceed the city's strict energy "budget" for new buildings either to install a renewable energy system or to pay a renewable energy mitigation fee.

The Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED) project is a community-based renewable energy campaign started in 1993. Four Minnesota organizations have joined forces to work with farmers, rural leaders, and energy advocates to build a stronger base of support for renewable energy development in the state.

Terminal Island Treatment Plant
The City of Los Angeles dedicated a new 250-kilowatt fuel cell power plant in September 2003, marking the latest in a string of large installations throughout the United States. The L.A. fuel cell system, located at the Terminal Island Treatment Plant in San Pedro, is currently fueled with natural gas, but city officials plan to switch the fuel source to biogas by next summer. The methane-rich biogas is produced during the wastewater treatment process, but the city needs to install a gas-processing system in order to feed the gas into the fuel cell system.

San Diego Gas and Electric Company Renewable Energy Plan
One of California's two largest utilities, SDG&E) recently announced plans to add more renewable energy to their electricity supplies in order to meet the state's new requirements for renewable energy. SDG&E intends to meet California's requirement for 20 percent renewable energy seven years early: by 2010 instead of 2017. SDG&E has also updated its long-term energy resource plan; the latest version shows that energy efficiency and renewable energy will meet all of the utility's growing energy needs through 2011.

Spire Corporation PV Systems -- Chicago, Illinois
Spire Corporation announced in October 2001 the installation of three 50-kilowatt solar power systems in Chicago. Spire installed the systems on the roofs of three major Chicago museums -- the Art Institute of Chicago, the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, and the Chicago Historical Society -- as part of a commitment by a number of organizations to produce clean energy in Chicago. According to Spire, each system can produce enough electricity to power up to 30 homes.

In November 2002, Spire announced that it will provide smaller solar power systems to 12 homes in the Chicago metropolitan area. The company's Spire Solar Chicago operation will install 1.2-kilowatt systems on single-family homes in an affordable housing development in southeastern Chicago. The systems should provide about one-quarter of the electricity needs for the energy-efficient homes.

The City of Ashland, Oregon, Energy Conservation Division, operates a series of energy conservation programs to encourage residents on a community-wide scale to take advantage of energy-conservation and renewable energy technologies. These programs include "Solar Hot Water Rebate Program," which offers cash rebates to residential customers who install approved solar water-heating systems. The State of Oregon also offers residents with solar systems a renewable energy tax credit.

Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan commits the state to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. The state has pledged to cut its energy use enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions at state facilities by 25 percent by 2012, and will purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient office equipment for its facilities. In addition, Massachusetts will improve its efficiency standards, encourage the construction of "green" buildings, encourage the development of renewable energy, and implement California's Low Emission Vehicle program to reduce emissions from vehicles in the state.

Midwest Wind Energy Program
Describes a joint effort between Waverly Power & Light and the University of Northern Iowa to install and operate an 80-kW wind turbine. The program has reduced carbon dioxide output by some 119 tons and generated more than 325,000 kWh of electricity.

New York Power Authority Fuel Cell Project
New York Power Authority (NYPA) purchased in late 2001 eight fuel cell sytems for use at four wastewater treatment facilities in New York City. NYPA will use waste gas (primarily methane) from the water treatment process to power the fuel cells. Each of the units generates 200 kilowatts of electricity.

The North Carolina Solar Center was established in 1988 as a state clearinghouse for solar energy information, education and technical assistance, and has since developed into one of the most comprehensive solar energy institutions in the country. It offers a variety of programs and services related to solar energy.

Stateline Wind Project
Announced in January 2001, this project will result in a new 300-megawatt wind facility along the Washington-Oregon border. FPL Energy, LLC, will build, own, and operate the wind facility, said to be the world's largest. The facility will draw on 450 wind turbines to produce enough power for 70,000 homes. PacifiCorp Power Marketing, Inc., a subsidiary of Pacificorp, will sell the power throughout the West.

Sun4Schools
A a project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), that has installed 2-kW photovoltaic systems on 27 middle and high schools in the state. The systems include a curriculum unit for use in the classrooms, as well as a data-monitoring system that allows students to monitor their system's energy output via the Internet.

Traverse City Light and Power’s Wind Generator
Profiles a wind energy system in Traverse City, Michigan, that generates electricity at the same cost as power purchased by the utility at wholesale prices. The system produces enough electricity for 200 homes.

U.S. Marine Corps Solar Installation
One of the largest solar power systems in the country is now online at a U.S. Marine Corps base in Twentynine Palms, California. The Marine Corp base installed a 1.1-megawatt photovoltaic system, which will provide about 10 percent of the base's electrical needs. The project earned a $4.5 million incentive award from the state's Self Generation Incentive Program. Southern California Gas Company presented a $4.5 million incentive for the project, its largest incentive ever.

White Wave, Inc. in February 2003 became the largest purchaser to date of Green Tags, according to the Bonneville Power Administration. White Wave, the country's largest soy products manufacturer, will purchase a minimum of 55,000 megawatt-hours worth of credits over three years, the commitment replaces the electrical power used in all of the company's operations with clean, sustainable wind energy.

Wisconsin Solar Use Network (WisconSUN)
Provides assistance to prospective owners of solar energy systems in an effort to increase the number of installed systems. Site includes information on solar energy systems, as well as case studies, useful links, and more.

Articles and Publications

Annual Project Activity Report to the Legislature (pdf) is a 2003 report from the California Energy Commission outlining the success of its renewable energy program. According to the program has provided more than $82 million in rebates for a total of 5,300 solar and wind energy systems installed at homes and businesses throughout the state. The systems have a combined capacity of more than 20 megawatts, and systems comprising another 9 megawatts in capacity are under construction. The program's support for new commercial renewable energy plants has thus far yielded 40 new projects that total 259 megawatts in capacity. The program has also supported more than 200,000 purchases of renewable energy by consumers.

Assessing the Potential for Renewable Energy on Public Lands
prepared by NREL and the U.S. Department of the Interior, studies resources on Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and tribal lands. It examines wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy resources, applying suitable screening criteria such as the distance to transmission lines and roads. It found areas in seven western states that hold a potential for power production from three or more renewable energy resources, plus 35 sites in six western states that hold a high potential for near-term development of geothermal power resources. Read more.

BPA Draws on Hydropower to Make Wind Energy More Attractive
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which supplies power to utilities throughout the Northwest, has launched a new service that will make wind power more attractive to those utilities. Because the wind produces a variable supply of energy, BPA is using its hydropower facilities as a back-up energy source to cover the times when the wind turbines don't turn. BPA announced the new service last week in conjunction with its sale of two megawatts of wind power to Cowlitz County Public Utility District in Longview, Washington. The wind power will be generated at the Nine Canyon wind energy project near Kennewick, Washington, a facility operated by Energy Northwest.

Commission Approves Idaho Power Wind Contract
A press release announcing that the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a contract for Idaho Power to buy the power from a 10.5-megawatt wind power project in southern Idaho, effectively giving the project a green light. If the developer—Fossil Gulch Wind Park, LLC—obtains all necessary permits and proceeds to build the wind project, it will be the largest in the state.

DTE Energy Seeks To Build Hydrogen Technology Park In Southfield
Describes a new project in Michigan, in which DTE Energy is planning to build a hydrogen energy pilot project that will include on-site hydrogen production using biomass and solar power, hydrogen storage and distribution, vehicle fueling, and on-site power production using fuel cell technology. The five-year project will cost $3 million and will produce about 100,000 kilowatt- hours of electricity per year, in addition to enough compressed hydrogen gas to fuel three vehicles per day.

Discovery may spur cheap solar power
An October 2, 2003, article from cnn.com that explains a European chip maker's discovery of new ways to produce solar cells which will generate electricity twenty times cheaper than today's solar panels.

Energy Conversion Devices Project to Cut Solar Cell Cost
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) awarded a subcontract in May 2003 to Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) for the development of new solar cell manufacturing technology. The research project will concentrate on developing online diagnostic systems, closed-loop control, and continuous online optimization of a solar cell manufacturing line large enough to produce 30 megawatts of solar cells each year.

First Quarter Report: Wind Industry Trade Group Sees Little to No Growth in 2004, Following Near-Record Expansion in 2003
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the U.S. wind industry's trade association, projects new wind energy installations to total less than 500 megawatts this year, a precipitous drop from the 1,687 megawatts of wind generating capacity installed in 2003. AWEA blames the slowdown on the current lack of a production tax credit for wind power. The tax credit expired at the end of last year, although it was reinstated by Congress during spring 2004.

Municipal Guide to Purchasing Renewable Energy (pdf) is a publication from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council that helps municipalities develop effective renewable energy procurement strategies.

Permitting Small Wind Turbines: A Handbook (pdf) was produced by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The handbook addresses wind energy installations, permitting, best practices, and ordinances. It is available for download at the above link.

Small Wind Electric Systems--A Pennsylvania Consumer's Guide
A answers basic questions on wind energy generation and can help someone decide if wind energy will work for them. The guide will help answer questions such as "Is wind energy practical for me?" and "What do wind systems cost?" and "How much energy will my system generate?" The guide includes a glossary, descriptions of how wind turbines work, and a listing of sources for more information, including websites. The guide, produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, also includes a listing of potential funding sources.

Xcel Energy announces proposed renewable energy project selections
Identifies 25 proposed renewable energy projects to receive $22 million from Xcel Energy's Renewable Development Fund in 2004. The projects include seven efforts to draw on renewable energy in Minnesota, including two wind turbines, two anaerobic digesters, a biomass energy combined heat and power plant, a project to increase biomass use at a University of Minnesota steam plant, and a hydropower facility refurbishment.

Links

American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
Works to bring all forms of renewable energy into the mainstream of America's economy and lifestyle.

Consumer Guide to Renewable Energy for Your Home or Business
This DOE website shows consumers how they can buy electricity made from renewable sources in their state, evaluate the environmental benefits of clean power, and learn how clean power is generated. In addition, the site helps visitors decide if owning a renewable energy system is right for them by helping to evaluate the available technologies, teaching about connecting to the grid and sizing a system, and presenting the available incentives. A special section on powering a home or small business with a small wind system is also included.

Database of State Incentives
This searchable online database catalogs state, utility, and local incentives, including tax incentives, grants, loans, rebates and industrial recruitment, and provides an overview of the renewable energy activities of 45 communities in 22 states.

Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Serves as a network for sharing ideas, resources and information with individuals, businesses, and communities to promote a resilient future through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and earth-friendly technology.

Interwest Energy Alliance
A newly developed trade association consisting of members from both industry and environmental organizations that support state-level public policies to harness the West's renewable energy and energy efficiency resources. The Alliance particularly focuses on promoting market-based Renewable Portfolio Standard policies. Its website also features information on the benefits of renewable energy use in the West.

Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative
A joint project between the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University (OSU) to initiate and strengthen opportunities for long-term economic benefits from wind power in the state. OWPI is funded by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the University Center for Energy Research at OSU. The OWPI Web site includes information for state policymakers and stakeholders, as well as information on Oklahoma's wind resource.

SEPA Commercial Solar Electric Installation Inventory
A new database that lists businesses and institutions with solar systems, released by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). Entries can be sorted by system size, by location, etc.

Vermont Wind Policy Website
The Agency of Natural Resources concluded in December 2004 that large-scale wind plants should not be built on state-owned lands. Noting that Vermonters largely support the development of renewable energy resources, the new policy still encourages small-scale wind installations on state lands when appropriate.

Windustry
Provides examples of community wind enegy projects, a wind energy curriculum, information on wind energy, and more.

Last updated: March 10, 2005

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