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http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/23/germany.greenbusiness
Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff Legislation Introduced in U.S. Congress
While the Senate dawdles with one set of renewable energy incentives, four members of the House of Representatives, led by Jay Inslee (D-Washington), have introduced a new piece of legislation that everyone concerned about alternative energy in the United States really needs to watch.
Feed-In Tariff Legislation Introduced into House
The Renewable Energy Jobs and Security Act would create a feed-in tariff system of payments for small to mid-sized renewable energy suppliers (sites up to 20MW in size) similar to the one which has had such success, and has been recently expanded, in Germany.
Under a feed-in tariff system renewable electricty producers are paid a fixed, above market-rate, tariff for the electricity that is fed into the grid. The cost of this is then spread across all consumers of electricty. In Germany the estimated additional cost to the average family of three is €2 per month.
Inslee: “The feed-in tariff enacted in Germany in 2003 has helped the European nation achieve 55 percent of the world's installed solar capacity, provide 14 percent of its electricity supply from renewable sources and create at least 140,000 jobs. Similar policies also have been adopted by France, Spain and over 40 other countries, provinces and states.”
Inslee’s bill has three main components: guaranteed interconnection to the grid, long-term fixed rate contracts with electric utilities, and a rate-recovery program through a regional cost-sharing commission to minimize the impact on consumers. The bill would set technology-specific rates that utilities would pay renewable energy suppliers, that would incrementally decrease every two years for the 20 year lifespan of the tariff.
Though Inslee does not mention it, given the reports that we’ve seen recently about renewable energy reaching parity with fossil fuels, some of these rates should probably be set to depreciate more quickly than others, but overall the plan is sound.
New Direction in US Renewable Energy Promotion?
It may not seem it at first, and provided there are no demons lurking in the end pages of this bill which limit its effectiveness, this bill could dramatically change the way in which renewable energy is promoted in the United States.
Co-sponsoring the bill with Inslee are Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.; no relation to post author), and Mike Honda (D-Cali.). A companion bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate.
Hi Fifi,
I've founded a group here at the Pickens Plan called "Musicians fo a Better Future". We're just starting out, and we'd like to arrange performance events in as many cities as possible around the world to promote clean, renewable domestic energy. We need people in Missouri, and you could be our first!
Most of the people we'll need to make this happen aren't musicians either. We'll need organizers, promoters, media reps, event staff and so much more. Please have a look at our group and see if this might be something you'd like to do.
Thanks for your time,
Rev. Jake
I often see comments on the pages of people joining the Pickens Plan movement where they want to be involved but have limited knowledge of where to start and where to look. After spending time in Europe and seeing what many countries are doing to secure their energy independence, I think that I can share some pretty good ideas and information with you. The European countries, especially Germany, Denmark and Spain are leading the way on that continent to renewable energy.
As we all know, knowledge is power. This power has for too long been out of our hands with emphasis shifted to different fronts by our government. Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, it doesn’t matter. We are all Americans that face the same problems caused by high oil prices. T. Boone Pickens is leading the charge here in America similar to the path many European countries have been on for 10-20 years. Most countries there have always had expensive fuel.
I wish everyone could take a trip to Germany to see the solar and wind initiative that they have fostered in their society. It is mind-boggling! This commitment was jump started by a place called Freiburg, Germany. Denmark started with a huge program in clean energy from wind. These are websites that I would recommend seeing where you can read about these programs and see examples of what they have done and are continuing to do - examples of where we should be heading.
1) The Solar Village – Freiburg, Germany. See: http://www.thesolarvillage.com/
2) The Folkecenter for Renewable Energy – Denmark.
See: http://www.folkecenter.net/gb/overview/publications/
Under VARIOUS, read: The transition from Fossil Fuels to the Renewable Energies
The whole website is excellent and you could spend hours there.
3) Google: Samso, Denmark. This is an island off the coast of Demark that is completely self-sustaining. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_kolbert
4) Read the article written by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. titled: “Global Warming: A Real Solution”
Our issues with energy aren’t just about lack of oil to go around, they are on a more grand scale about the issues of global warming and national security as well. What you will see in the above references is information that deals with a quest of becoming carbon neutral. Not only can our government and businesses move in that direction, individuals can participate as well like they have in Germany. In Germany and Denmark it is all about tax laws that encourage every homeowner to become an energy producer. (Germany has 19,000+ wind turbines and millions of solar panels). The incentives make it worthwhile and at the same time direct these countries toward energy independence.
Unmentioned above are recommendations for a few good documentaries to watch – “Saved by the Sun” a PBS NOVA video, and “A Crude Awakening” by Basil Gemlpke, et al. Americans needs to mobilize and pressure our government representatives both on the state and national level. The Pickens Plan is a good place to foster discussion and share ideas and PUSH this plan! Good luck in your quest for a better America….. Lee