Renewable Energy: Unleashing the Potential

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Renewable EnergyUnleashing the Potential

Jennifer Alvarado, Executive Director
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Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
Founded in 1991, the mission of the Great Lakes
Renewable Energy Association is to
increase the mainstream use of renewable
energy technologies and sustainable energy
practices.
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Why Renewables?

• Decrease Carbon, NOX and Mercury Emissions
• Clean Source of Energy
• Energy Assurance
• Independent Lifestyle

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Energy Dependent Society

• U.S. expects 99.9 reliability
• from the electric grid
• US Department of Energy, March 2005

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Energy Dependent Society

• 97 of U.S. transportation
• is fueled by oil

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U.S. Reliance on Oil

• U.S. owns 2 of the worlds oil
• and needs 26
• Global Peak Oil is expected to be reached by
  2008-2010

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U.S. Natural Gas Path

• By 2025, the U.S. will only produce
• 71 of our natural gas needs

U.S. Department of Energy, EIA
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Energy AssurancesSecurity and Independence

• Natural disasters, accidents, aging
  infrastructure, human error, and terrorism
• Howstuffworks.com

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Energy AssurancesSecurity and Independence

• Renewables are a step towards distributed
  generation and energy independence

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Reduce Demand through Energy Efficiency

• Insulation
• Windows
• Lighting
• Office Equipment and Appliances
• ENERGYSTAR

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Potential for Wind

www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringameri
ca/
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Potential for Wind

• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has
  estimated that Michigan has a potential for
  development of 16,560 MW.

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Solar Electricity Photovoltaics
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Solar Thermal
Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, site of the 1996
Olympic swimming competition
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Passive Solar Design
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Biodiesel

• Benefits
• Less Emissions (Fleet)
• Less Vehicle Maintenance

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Policy Tools for Promoting Renewables

• Solar Wind Access
• Tax Credits
• Rebates
• Renewable Portfolio Standard

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Solar and Wind Access

• ? Voluntarily create easements for the purpose of
  protecting and maintaining proper access to
  sunlight and wind
• ? Prohibits any residential covenants that
  restrict access

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Tax Credits

• Property Tax Credits
• payout annual savings from a solar energy system
  almost twice in annual property taxes.
• Available In 22 States
• Sales Tax Credit on RE Equipment

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Rebates

• New Jersey has a growing solar energy market,
  30-70 rebates
• Set up a funding mechanism through RPS, utility
  program or a state fund
• State Rebate Programs
• WWW.DSIREUSA.ORG

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Report on Solar Energy Industry development in
the Midwest

• According to preliminary interviews with
  representatives from BP Solar, Astropower and
  Shell Solar and SEIA, leading solar manufacturers
  are looking for 50 rebates/incentives, a minimum
  of a 10MM annual fund per state to support
  purchases of 20MM, sales opportunities of 100kW
  and a 5-10 year commitment in order to commit to
  solar energy market development in the Midwest.
• (1-2 RPS for Solar)
• US DOE CRO MSRI Regional Marketing
  Action Plan

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A national 20 Renewable Electricity Standard
by 2025 could

• Save consumers 35 billion on their electricity
  bills and 14 billion in lower natural gas
  bills.
• Net gain of more than 157,000 new jobs in
  manufacturing, construction, operation,
  maintenance, and other industries.
• 73 billion in capital investment
• 16 billion in income to farmers, ranchers, and
  rural landowners for biomass energy supplies and
  wind power land leases.
• Union of Concerned Scientists August 2004

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How do we get there?

• U.S. DOE Regional Offices
• Million Solar Roofs State Partner
• Regional working groups
• Wind Powering America
• Wind Working Group
• Green Power Network

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Western Governors AssociationWestern States
Energy Policy Roadmap

• New Energy Development
• Enable exploration and development of promising
  domestic oil, gas, coal, geothermal, solar,
  biomass or wind resources where lands, air,
  water, fish and wildlife and other environmental
  resources can be protected.

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Development and Deployment of renewable energy
technologies can benefit the region by

• Promote the development of new technologies and
  Western companies
• Reduce air pollutants
• Safety net, requirement of reduction of GHG
• Stewardship obligation of natural resources
• Providing a hedge against fluctuating energy
  prices
• Save precious water resources
• Western States Energy Policy
  Roadmap

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• Thank you
• Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
• 257 S. Bridge St
• PO Box 346
• Dimondale MI 48221
• 517-646-6269
• jennifer.alvarado_at_glrea.org
• www.glrea.org