Renewable Energy Renewable Energy in the Northeastin the Northeast

Good Opportunities; Significant ObstaclesGood Opportunities; Significant Obstacles

presented bypresented by

Warren LeonWarren Leon

Massachusetts Technology CollaborativeMassachusetts Technology Collaborative

June 25. 2008June 25. 2008

What Is Renewable Energy?What Is Renewable Energy? Energy that won’t run Energy that won’t run

out if properly managedout if properly managed

SolarSolar WindWind Water (rivers, tides, Water (rivers, tides,

waves)waves) Bioenergy (plants)Bioenergy (plants) GeothermalGeothermal

The DilemmaThe Dilemma

Renewable energy would Renewable energy would make a significant impactmake a significant impact

It’s maddeningly hard to It’s maddeningly hard to bring renewable energy bring renewable energy into widespread use, into widespread use, even though the vast even though the vast majority of people in the majority of people in the Northeast support itNortheast support it

What Renewable Energy Has What Renewable Energy Has Going For ItGoing For It

Urgent need to diversify Urgent need to diversify the energy supply.the energy supply.

Public likes the idea of Public likes the idea of renewable energy.renewable energy.

Public officials and key Public officials and key stakeholders support it.stakeholders support it.

Offers environmental Offers environmental and economic benefits.and economic benefits.

Favorable public Favorable public policies.policies.

Why Renewable Energy Makes Why Renewable Energy Makes Sense for the NortheastSense for the Northeast

High electricity High electricity pricesprices

No indigenous fossil No indigenous fossil fuelsfuels

Need local markets Need local markets to help start-up to help start-up companiescompanies

PV Provides Power at the Right TimePV Provides Power at the Right Time

Many Barriers and ObstaclesMany Barriers and Obstacles

Permitting and siting are Permitting and siting are difficultdifficult A densely populated region A densely populated region

with relatively little land for with relatively little land for development.development.

Easier to prevent something Easier to prevent something from happening than to from happening than to make something happen.make something happen.

Often essential to have Often essential to have strong public support but it strong public support but it generally is not enough.generally is not enough.

More ObstaclesMore Obstacles

Many entities have Many entities have input into whether a input into whether a project goes forward. project goes forward.

The more technically The more technically novel or complex a novel or complex a change, the more change, the more barriers need to be barriers need to be overcome.overcome.

Some public policies Some public policies don’t work as don’t work as intended.intended.

Deciding on a Project:Deciding on a Project:One Size Does Not Fit AllOne Size Does Not Fit All

VariablesVariables TechnologyTechnology Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources Construction CostsConstruction Costs Local ImpactsLocal Impacts Onsite LoadOnsite Load State IncentivesState Incentives

First StepsFirst Steps

Start with the most Start with the most cost-effective, but cost-effective, but unlikely, technologies: unlikely, technologies: landfill gas, hydro, wind.landfill gas, hydro, wind.

Assess the resourceAssess the resource Check for deal-Check for deal-

changing incentives changing incentives (e.g., RPS, net (e.g., RPS, net metering)metering)

Second StepsSecond Steps

Defer analysis of Defer analysis of secondary secondary incentivesincentives

Consider bringing Consider bringing in a private in a private partner/developerpartner/developer

The sun shines The sun shines everywhereeverywhere Consider third-Consider third-

party ownershipparty ownership

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