USRenewableEnergyField,2009:
AreportbytheAmericanCouncilOnRenewableEnergy
ThemovementforanAmericapoweredbyclean,renewableenergyhasapowerfulnewadvocate:
“Tofinallysparkthecreationofacleanenergyeconomy,wewilldoubletheproductionofalternativeenergy
inthenextthreeyears.Wewillmodernisemorethan75%offederalbuildingsandimprovetheenergy
efficiencyoftwomillionAmericanhomes,savingconsumersandtaxpayersbillionsonourenergybills.”
BarackObama,GeorgeMasonUniversity,January8
th
2009.
J
ust weeks into the new administration, the American draftoflegislationdesignedtohavetheUSjoinEuropeandthe
Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 set forth rest of the world in aggressively combating global warming.
legislationputtingrenewableenergyintheroleofacentral Thedraft,knownastheAmerican Clean Energy and Security Act
playerintheAdministration’splanstorevivetheUSeconomy. (ACESA)wouldputinplaceacap-and-trademarkettoreduce
A principal goal of the Act is to: “Revive the renewable energy CO
2
emissions,whilerequiringthatanincreasingshareofUS
industry and provide the capital over the next three years to electricitycomefromrenewablesources.
eventually double domestic renewable energy capacity.” Inhisfiscal2010budget,PresidentObamaproposedcutting
The ARRA legislation extended, expanded and created an GHGs14%by2020and83%by2050(from2005levels)and
array of financial incentives that will help revive the auctioningoff100%ofemissioncredits–therighttoemit.The
renewableenergyindustryinAmericaandprovidethecapital energy portion of the bill includes provisions to ensure
necessary for an extended industry scale-up. Included in the renewableenergyplaysaroleinachievingthesereductions.
Act are a three year extension of the In addition, there is a Renewable
productiontaxcredit(PTC),aprovision
Congresshascreatedadirect
Electricity Standard (RES) in the bill
allowing facilities eligible for the PTC
cashgrantfortheownersof
requiring 25% of electricity sold by
theoptionof,instead,utilisingtheITC utilitiestocomefromrenewableenergy
(Investment Tax Credit), and the
renewableenergyfacilities
by 2025. Under the RES, each
creation of a new advanced energy megawatt of electricity generated from
projectcredit.Forthefirsttime,Congresshascreatedadirect distributed renewable energy facilities (of two megawatts or
cash grant for the owners of renewable energy facilities that less)willreceivethreetimestheamountofrenewableenergy
couldbetakeninplaceoftheITC. credits (RECs) received by a
Table 2: Proposed RES
In addition, the ARRA significantly increased funding for larger facility. This will help
programs supporting the expansion of renewable energy promote diversity in the scale
Year Renewables
capacity. US$16.8 bn is given to the Department of Energy’s andtypeofrenewablefacilities.
Required
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), a The draft legislation
2012 6%
nearlyten-foldincreaseovertheUS$1.7bninfiscalyear2008. authorises federal government 2014 8.5%
The ARRA appropriated US$6 bn for a temporary loan agencies, the largest consumer 2016 11%
guaranteeprogramthatisexpectedtosupportuptoUS$60bn of energy, to enter into long-
2018 14%
innewloansforrenewableenergyprojectsandmanufacturing term contracts to purchase
2020 17.5%
facilities,aswellasprovidingfortransmissionexpansion. renewableenergy.Thecertainty
2022 21%
of long-term contracts, coupled
2024 23%
Proposed Climate Change Legislation Introduced with potentially significant
2025 25%
In late March 2009, Representative Henry Waxman (D., increasesindemand,mayhelpleadtoeconomiesofscale.In
Calif.)andRep.EdMarkey(D.,Mass.)introducedadiscussion addition, the draft bill creates a role for renewable fuels
Table 1: ARRA Renewable Energy Provisions
throughalowcarbonfueltransportationstandard.
OnApril13
th
2009,theObamaadministration’schiefenergy
ARRA Time Period/Amount
andclimateadvisor,CarolBrowner,saidshewantedCongress
ProductionTaxCredit(PTC):Threeyearextension
to establish a broad US GHG policy before global climate
InvestmentTaxCredit(ITC):ElectiontochooseITCinlieuofthePTC change talks in Copenhagen in December. Browner said she
TemporaryGrantProgram: ElectiontochoosegrantinlieuoftheITC
wasconfidentCongresscouldmoveforwardonclimatechange
Qualifying Advanced Energy Manufacturing Credit US$2.3 bn
policy, based on the fact that the ACESA hearings are
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds US$1.6 bn
DOE’s Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program US$6 bn
scheduled to begin in May. Advancing climate change
DOE’s Smart Grid Program US$4.5. bn
legislation,saidBrowner,is“absolutelyessential”towhatthe
DOE’s Research and Development Program US$2.5 bn US can accomplish during UN negotiations, adding: “The
Department of Labor Green Collar Job Training Program US$500 m
positionwecantakeinCopenhagenwillbedrivenbywhatwe
Alternative Fueled Vehicle Pilot Grant Program US$300 m
arepreparedtododomestically.
worldPower2009 111
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