Renewable sources of energy, including wind and solar, currently represent less than 1% of the national average power use in the U.S. This pie chart is shifting. Wind power is the green energy source currently experiencing the greatest explosion of growth in research, development and building infrastructure. Consumers and businesses are fueling overall interest, driving the implementation of local, state and federal tax credits and incentives.
Power captured by the wind is evident on the drive from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, where the highway traverses through the wind farm on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass. This array of more than 4,000 windmills produces enough electricity to power the entire Coachella Valley, with a population of 500,000, including seasonal residents.
Demand by consumers is driving more such wind development, at least in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosts the Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program encouraging organizations to purchase credits toward green power development. These credits, known as Renewable Energy Certificates, are based on EPA calculations of energy use.
The certificates allow organizations to purchase power at a premium cost, assuring that the power coming from the utility is produced from green sources. Green power production identified by the EPA includes wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, biogas and low-impact hydro. Purchasing credits drives demand for renewable energy sources, encourages development of and investment in green infrastructure while simultaneously increasing recognition of renewable use.
Credit purchase is creating an expansion of wind farms across the country. The Coachella Valley array, although impressive, doesn’t represent the latest and greatest in wind technology. Progress has led to taller turbines, more efficient at capturing wind. These are scattered across a landscape rather than clustered in a crowd, allowing for a lighter footprint by individual turbines.
In Iowa cornfields or Texas ranches, towering turbines provide a second crop, one that harvests wind. The tax incentives funding this nationwide energy crop are hard-fought and hard-won by the actions of organizations such as the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
The EPA Green Power Partnership’s website, www.epa.gov/greenpower details the credit purchasing program along with program participants. The EPA itself purchases 100% of their electricity needs in the form of credits as does the clothing company PrAna and Whole Foods, New York University, the World Bank Group and Colorado’s Vail Resorts. In an ironic juxtaposition, the U.S. Air Force purchases more of their power (a barely noticeable 4%) than the U.S. Department of Energy (only 3%). Other companies also support renewables. The office supply company Staples purchases 20% of its use, as does Starbucks.
The city of San Diego purchases 26% of their power needs in the form of credits. Additionally, the San Diego Unified School District produces on-site generation of green power through photovoltaic panels installed on the roofs of school buildings. The city of Santa Monica purchases 100% of its power needs from renewable sources.
Individuals can purchase green power. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (www.ladwp.com) sponsors the program Green Power for a Green L.A. Customers can support renewable energy through signing up for the program and paying an additional premium (an added 6% of electricity cost). Individual voices can drive policy change by advocating increased investment in renewable energy and supporting tax and other incentives. Visit www.awea.org to become informed about national legislation and contacting appropriate legislators.
At the state and local levels, governments provide tax incentives, rebates or zoning adjustments for individuals or organizations striving to green homes, businesses or other facilities. California is on the cutting edge of some of these incentives. To find out more, visit www.dsireusa.org for a searchable database. For example, the city of Santa Monica offers a building permit fee waiver for projects incorporating solar power.
As we’ve passed the peak oil marker and global warming concerns continue, increased investment in renewable energy sources may just be the source that powers our laptops and light bulbs in the future. Credit now means that our power will be blowing in the wind.
