Renewable Energy Solutions

          By harnessing natural sources of energy like the sun and the wind, renewable energy sources can replace our reliance on outdated, polluting power plants that rely on fossil fuels.  Today's solar panels efficently transform sunlight into electricity while blending into the design of homes and office buildings.  Modern wind turbines rise high above the ground, capturing the strongest winds to produce reliable electricity.

          Currently, dirty fossil fuel power plants account for over a third of the nations total global warming emissions.  Meeting our energy needs with clean, renewable energy can move the country towards a brighter, cleaner, and cheaper energy future.

          Cities around the country are discovering that investing in innovative renewable energy sources reduces global warming emissions and creates a reliable source of clean, homegrown electricty.

Solution #1---Renewable Energy Standards

          A renewable energy standard requires that a certain percentage of all electricity sold in a city or a utility are come from clean, renewable energy source such as wind and solar power by a specific target date.  These standards are phased in over time so that renewable energy capacity can be built and incorporated into the necessary energy management and reliability plans.  For instance, a 20 percent Renewable Energy Standard could be phased in over ten years, requiring an additional 2 percent of electricity generation to come from renewable sources each year.  In particular, cities that operate municipal utilities have been able to set renewable energy standards for their community-owned utilities.

Solution #2---Solar and Wind Installations                   

          Some cities are moving forward by financing the construction of renewable energy projects themselves.  In some cases, cities are working with local municipal utilities to construct wind turbines.  In other cases, cities are working with privately owned utilities and renewable energy developers to construct solar arrays on city buildings, schools, and homes.

Solution #3---City Utility Contracts

          Some cities are beginning to incorporate renewable energy requirements into their contract renewals with privately owned local utilities.  For example, Denver, Colorado is working with its local utility, Xcel Energy, to meet modest renewable energy goals for the city.