Distributed Renewable Energy, Point of Use Generation Success Model

Our Nation’s energy policy sits at a critical crossroad. After decades of avoidance, national consensus now seeks to increase development of renewable energy resources. The Alliance for Responsible Energy Policy (AREP) fully supports achieving this goal with Responsible Energy Policy. As a Nation we can do that the wrong way or THE BETTER WAY. The wrong way is to build industrial-scale solar plants, large wind farms and thousands of miles of high-voltage power lines. This policy direction adds millions of tons of green house gasses to construct and maintain industrial-scale projects. This direction will consume millions of acres of undisturbed lands in remote regions and deplete precious water resources. Furthermore, this direction creates an expensive, inefficient energy system (when all true costs are taken into consideration) and continues big energy’s stranglehold on consumers. THE BETTER WAY is to develop locally distributed energy generated at the point-of-use.

Photovoltaic technologies and micro wind turbines installed on residential and commercial buildings are THE BETTER WAY. Heading in this direction yields the Responsible Energy Policy our Nation sorely needs. This direction does not require major construction projects, their lengthy and costly permitting process, or new high-voltage transmission lines therefore reducing green house gasses and energy grid congestion. THE BETTER WAY direction does not consume millions of acres of undisturbed lands or deplete precious water resources. Locally generated energy is less expensive to install and maintain. THE BETTER WAY is an efficient distributed energy system that truly puts power in the hands of the consumers.

AREP’s research confirms no economic or technological argument refutes THE BETTER WAY. The only impediments to THE BETTER WAY are current National and State Energy Policies that are ill conceived and irresponsible. They favor big energy producers and utility companies at taxpayer and ratepayer expense while compromising our environmental protection laws.

Achieving Responsible Energy Policy requires:

•	Repealing the failed Energy Policy Act of 2005 that only benefits big energy companies.
•	Offering tax credits, rebates, and low interest loans to home and business owners for installing photovoltaic technologies and micro wind turbines.
•	Passing feed-in-tariff laws requiring utility companies to purchase surplus renewable energy produced locally by home and business owners at market rates.
•	Removing restrictions that limit the size of property owner renewable energy systems and consequently discourage excess renewable energy production.