Setting back innovation in renewable energy?

This past year, the energy industry has faced concerns for the renewable resources and clean energy innovation future. In 2011 and 2012 the industry has grown, with significant implementations in solar. However, the forthcoming presidential elections and the rise in natural gas resources have spurred unease about clean energy policy, innovation, and financing.

At the 5th annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF-West) in San Francisco, CA this week, Jonathan Powers, Federal Environmental Executive at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, talked about the Federal administration sustainability programs. REFF-West focuses on the major challenges facing the alternative and clean energy landscape in the U.S. Clean energy investors, clean tech leaders, private sector and government executives, and various players attended the conference. For additional REFF information see below.

What has been done in the federal government world?

The administration has set sustainability goals, utilizing existing utility budgets without an impact or passing the cost burden onto taxpayers. Powers reported that progress against President Obama's Executive Order on Federal Sustainability EO13514 and the GreenGov program are on target. In his role, Powers is responsible for promoting environmental and energy sustainability across federal government operations. For more information about these initiatives see below.

The federal government is a major consumer of facility energy. Furthermore, the military is emerging as a substantial clean energy customer. For example, the army manages almost 15 million acres of land in the U.S. with multiple installations. In 2011 the army spent $1.3 billion on facility related energy, presenting enormous opportunities to establish more efficient operations and incorporate energy innovation. To date, the army alone has nearly 200 renewable energy active projects in multiple locations and functions, such as in military bases, in the supply-chain, and in support of field troops. By 2030, the annual military investment in renewables is estimated at $10 billion.

Each of the U.S. Armed Forces branches - the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard - have demonstrated strong commitment to renewable energy and are making strides in developing and implementing such solutions. Security concerns and the reliance on foreign fossil-fuels supply play a key element in the military commitment to clean and secure energy. One of the initiatives is the EITF, a program that aims to secure army installations with clean, reliable and affordable energy, allowing American armed forces to defend us. The EITF serves as the central management office bringing together private sector financing to implement large-scale (10 megawatts and more) renewable energy projects in the U.S. The EITF is helping the army advance and meet its objective of deploying 1 Gigawatts of renewables mix by 2025.

To read more about clean energy and its future click here Understanding the context of renewable energy today

Where are we headed?

Today, 3.3 Gigawatts of renewable energy are installed and operate in the U.S. There is also a notable growth of green jobs and innovation. Solar installations have increased this year. The four major retailers - Walmart, Costco, Kohl's and Macy's - are the largest businesses with commercial solar implementations. Wind solutions are also on the rise. In the forthcoming presidential elections clean energy has gained more visibility. Renewable energy is a thriving industry and should not be part of the political battleground.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Information about the GreenGov program can be found here: www.whitehouse.gov/GreenGov/

2. Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance - Executive Order 13514 (EO13514) was signed on October 5, 2009.

EO 13514 sets federal energy requirements in several areas:

Accountability and Transparency

Strategic Sustainability Performance Planning

Greenhouse Gas Management

Sustainable Buildings and Communities

Water Efficiency

Electronic Products and Services

Fleet and Transportation Management

Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction

EO13514 expanded upon the energy reduction and environmental performance requirements of EO13423 ((http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/regulations/eo13423.html))

Read more about the Executive Order on Federal Sustainability EO13514:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/regulations/eo13514.html

3. REFF-West website www.reffwest.com lists several events in the U.S. and abroad. REFF has been uniting senior financiers, investors, innovation leaders, and clean energy executives from across the US each year since 2008.

Covering a range of renewable and clean energy technologies, with a particular focus on developments in the Western US, topics covered at REFF-West included project financing, venture capital, renewable power generation, emerging commercial technologies, financing smaller projects, equity financing and established technologies. The conference also offers networking among representatives from the clean energy, green technologies and financial sectors.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/setting-back-innovation-renewable-energy?cid=Channel_Kaitlyn

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