Author(s): Cory Connolly, Olivia Cohn, and Daniel Blue
School:
Michigan State University
Date Published:
Tue, 2009-09-01
THE IDEA
The cooperative ownership of renewable energy production, coupled with state feed-in tariff policies (FiT), would increase the level of clean energy generation in any state. The combination can diffuse start-up costs, provide a profit to small communities and cooperatives, and create a stepping-stone to more comprehensive energy policy.
KEY FACTS
- In Michigan, the Renewable Portfolio Standard mandates that 10% of energy production originate from renewables by the year 2015.
- In one year, Germany offset 97 million tons of CO2 emissions through the employment of renewable energy.
- Increases in energy pricing are negligible; average increases in electricity prices would be less than $2 to $3.
FUTURE PREPAREDNESS IMPLICATIONS
- Transforming America's energy portfolio is key to long-term environmental sustainability and security.
- California has set America's most ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard goals: 20% by 2010, and 33% by 2020. At that pace, California could reach 60% by 2040. Unfortunately, the United States generates only 7.4% of its energy from renewable sources.
- Goals as ambitious as California's must be enacted and implemented across the nation for America to reach the scientifically accepted goal of 350 carbon parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere (in 2010, we find ourselves at 387 carbon ppm.
- Empowering community-based models for renewable energy through feed-in tariffs will be a critical step for reaching these goals.
To learn more about this policy idea, click here
