Main Street Green Power

"We have been helping environmental advocates around the world promote renewable energy payment policies, and we are excited to bring these lessons home to Oregon." Jennifer Gleason, ELAW Staff Attorney
	PHOTO: www.tamarackwellness.com

Imagine this: Just a few years from now, you are driving through your neighborhood and you begin to notice that there are solar panels on every other house.  You've been thinking about installing solar panels, but always thought it was cost prohibitive.  So you're wondering - how did that happen?  How were these folks able to afford it?  How did we get to a system of "Main Street Green Power?"

The technology has been available for many years.  The challenge has always been financing for the necessary infrastructure.  But brilliant advocates in Germany and around the world have figured out a system that works. 

Under a policy called renewable energy payments (REPs), the utility commits to pay for renewable energy at a reasonable price over a long period of time.  Germany used this policy to meet its target of obtaining 12.5% of its energy from renewable sources, like solar and wind power, three years ahead of schedule.  Germany is now is up to 14%, while the U.S.  gets less than one half of 1% of its energy from solar power and less than 7% of its power from all renewable sources, including hydropower.  These policies have helped Germany reduce CO2 emissions 18.5% below 1990 levels.  The country is on target to achieve a 40% reduction by 2020.

ELAW is at the forefront of efforts to bring these proven, effective policies to the United States.  Staff Attorney Jennifer Gleason and ELAW volunteer lawyer Jolene Goodnight are working on draft REP legislation that could be adopted in Oregon.  Hawaii, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Michigan are considering similar policies. 

ELAW is seeking additional funding so that Jennifer can train advocates around the country, and around the world, to draft and promote strong renewable energy payment policies.