Renewable Energy with Incentives

• Author: Brandon Hanson
• Pages: 104-107

104 Sustainable Development Code: Climate Change

RENE WABLE ENE RGY

WIT H IN CEN TIV ES

Brandon Hanson (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

Coal, natural gas, and petroleum make up 99% of carbon dioxide emissions

from electrica l energy production.1 Renewable energ y sources help mini mize

dependence on fossil fuels that create air pollution and emit greenhouse ga ses

(GHG).2 Local governments can provide incentives for residential and com-

mercial property owners to move away from traditional energy sources a nd

toward renewable sources. Doing so is a prodigious way to help reduce emis-

sions from fossil fuels. Common renewable energy generation systems are

wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal. is ordinance should be drafted

in a way to leverage the most benecial renewable sources based on the local

government’s location. For example, local governments in the su n-drenched

portions of the southwest may seek to take advantag e of and create incentives

for solar ener gy.3 Solar panels can be added to existing structures ea sily and

with little eect to the building, making solar an ideal source of renewable

energy for those with an abundance of sun.

In drafting this ordinance, local governments have a variety of options

for creating incentives, including oering rebates on purchasing equipment,

tax incentives, height allowances, setback and area-based incentives, expe-

dited permitting, a nd others.4 One incentive would allow net metering. Net

metering measures the amount of energy produced by a renewable energy

generation system. If more energy is produced than needed, a credit ca n

be issued to the resident. e credits can be utilized to pay for utility bills

in months when less energy is produced (see Zero Net Energy Buildings).5

Another important incentive are rebates. If considering rebates, loca l govern-

ments may base rebates on installation cost or purcha sing cost and may limit

rebates to installation by local workers. By lowering initial c osts, more devel-

opers and homeowners are more likely to implement renewable systems.6 In

addition, local governments may seek to help developers and homeowners

expedite the permitting of renewable systems. Doing so, may help make it

easier for individuals to shift to renewable systems.