by SKowalski | Sep 15, 2023 | News
By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Representative
Welcome to the August (and part of September) Congressional recess, I guess. Congress left town last week with a load of work still to do, ranging from appropriations to the Farm Bill re-authorization. It’s going to get very interesting when they get back.
The challenge is the House majority is deeply fractured. The ag appropriations bill on July 27 had to be pulled at the last minute because of intra-party infighting over its content. So, we’ll have to see what September brings. Many are betting on another government shutdown.
So that’s the noise in D.C. of late. The upshot is while Congress has its many issues, we are still hard at work. There is always action, sometimes we go on offense, sometimes defense, or both.
Some examples: we are talking to lots of Congressional Members and their staff to fend off the House ag appropriations proposed $500 million in cuts to REAP, the elimination of cost-share grants in REAP, as well as $1 billion in cuts to New ERA (the rural electric coop program from the IRA). We worked with Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Reps. Abagail Spanberger (D-VA) and David Valadao (R-CA) on their very positive REAP “marker” legislation for the upcoming Farm Bill. We are also communicating with the Treasury Department regarding IRA implementation issues. And we’re developing a new effort with other like-minded distributed renewable leaders for a longer-term strengthening of our respective DER market segment.
Please keep in mind that Congressional Members head home this time of year, not just to vacation and be with their families but to do retail politicking with folks in their Districts. You’ll see them pop up in coffee shops and at community events. My request to you—monitor their whereabouts and if you have a chance, please talk to them and their staff about distributed wind power benefits and our policy issues. And when you do, ping me a quick note. Knowledge is power!
Hope you are enjoying the summer and looking forward to more success in the weeks ahead!
by SKowalski | Sep 13, 2023 | News
By Michael Bergey, DWEA President
Dangerous, record-breaking heat across the globe is bringing home the real impact of our continued use of fossil fuels. But also in the news is the impressive surge of domestic investments in clean energy and storage manufacturing, as well as project deployment, stemming from federal legislation enacted less than a year ago. Story after story, many coming from “red” states, tell the tales of new factory investments in wind, solar, and storage, including the jobs that will ensue. President Biden’s and Congressional Democrats’ big bet on aggressive industrial policy to change the trajectory of CO2 emissions in the U.S. and build huge new clean energy industries appear to be paying off. It may well be the new jobs, and not the heat, that most effectively help erode Republican opposition to all thing’s climate change. One can hope.
Meanwhile, the work at DWEA continues. We were not successful in getting distributed wind inserted in the $7 billion EPA “Solar for All” program, but we did accomplish having a reserve fund for USDA REAP included in a “marker bill” that will help influence the critically important 2023 Farm Bill. We have yet to learn whether our request to the Treasury Department to allow the use of imported towers for distributed wind projects up to 1 MW to qualify for the Sec. 48 10-percent domestic content bonus. On the horizon is a multi-technology campaign to close the gap between the Sec. 48 and the Sec. 25D (residential) tax incentives.
So please, stay out of the heat but do publicize even your smallest business accomplishments in order that your voice is added to the good news on clean energy jobs and investment growth. You will be helping yourself and DWEA’s ongoing mission.
by Heather Rhoads | Dec 14, 2021 | News, Policy
Support Distributed Wind for Community Empowerment & Energy Resilience
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by Britton Rife | Jul 9, 2021 | News
DWEA’s annual business conference and lobby day is your best opportunity to learn what’s new in behind-the-meter distributed wind, including DOE’s exciting new programs to advance distributed wind’s contribution to clean energy and resiliency. DWEA’s half-day “DW on the Hill” event allows the industry and its supporter to take our message to Congressional leaders. The agenda, registration and highly discounted hotel reservations are available HERE.
by DWEA Site Admin | Jul 22, 2020 | News
July 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed major
weaknesses in our economy and deep-seated inequalities in our society, hitting
the most vulnerable people the hardest.
In advancing distributed clean energy, DWEA is
working to recognize and address systemic energy injustices with resilient
local resources prioritizing healthy and vibrant communities. DWEA members are
working to ensure disadvantaged community members have affordable access to
distributed energy resources, directly benefit from distributed wind energy
generation, and have a voice in decisions. All DWEA members are invited to
highlight ways the distributed wind industry can further support economic and
racial justice.
Distributed wind energy can play a strong role
in reducing inequality in our communities, providing well-paid jobs, and
supporting a just economy to address the climate crisis.
Ideas
for specific near-term actions:
- Strengthen diversity of association and speakers at events; build relationships with organizations led by people of color such as AABE, 100% Network, Grid Alternatives
- Enhance consumer protection and site selection to support cost-effective wind turbine purchasing and ownership (urban rooftops – buyer beware)
- Identify and coordinate with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)[1] that are located in areas with good potential DW markets
- Host learning session with HBCU leadership (Energy Managers, Business Managers, Sustainability Coordinators, etc.) to highlight opportunities and business case for distributed wind at nearby facilities
- Work with NREL and private industry to make internships available to under-represented inner-city high school and HBCU students with an interest in science and technology, energy generation, renewable energy, etc.
- Work with NREL to sponsor a competition among HBCU teams of students to build the best scaled down versions of wind turbine components and entire turbines. Part of the scoring criteria would be how well the teams are able to quantitatively demonstrate performance.
- Other? Please send ideas to Heather c/o info@distributedwind.org[
by Britton Rife | Oct 27, 2017 | News
DWEA Hosts Distributed Generation Workshop in Yuma, CO
Yuma, CO – On December 4th the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) will host a full-day Distributed Generation (DG) Workshop at the Community Center in Yuma, CO. The workshop is the second in DWEA’s “State of the State” initiative which is bringing community workshops aimed at increasing exposure about market opportunities in distributed generation to key states. The full-day workshop costs $15-$25 to attend and includes lunch and a networking reception. Space is limited and registration is required.
Colorado is a leader in distributed generation installations, ranking eighth nationally for distributed wind and eleventh for solar capacity. With over 27.3 MW of installed capacity and a significant economic potential in Yuma County alone of 35-70 MW, Colorado stands ready to lead in the national US distributed wind market’s growth. The distributed generation industries are poised to grow dramatically over the next few years. The Colorado DG Workshop provides the perfect opportunity to explore how homeowners, farmers, and businesses can leverage distributed renewable energy resources for local economic benefit.
Attendees will hear from distributed wind and solar manufacturers, project developers, and operations and maintenance providers as well as policy makers and industry experts on the fundamentals of DG, success stories, policy updates, and market opportunities in Colorado. For a mid-day highlight, Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter will give the keynote address and discuss the role of distributed generation in the new energy economy while highlighting opportunities for Colorado to continue to be a leader in DG.
“Colorado already has an advanced distributed wind market, as evidenced by the diversity of industry manufacturers, project developers, installers, and research facilities as well as top ten rankings for installed wind capacity, but we want to help the market grow to reach its full potential,” said Jennifer Jenkins, DWEA Executive Director. “Distributed wind provides unique opportunities for farmers, businesses, homeowners, and communities to control their energy costs and boost their bottom lines by producing their own clean, renewable energy. Colorado, with its abundant wind and land resource, presents a significant opportunity for on-site power projects and local job creation. We are thrilled to host this event,” Jenkins continued.
“The rapid growth of on-site renewable energy in Colorado has concentrated in the more urban and suburban communities, leaving the rural and agricultural regions of the state underserved. If rural electric cooperatives, state and local officials, and distributed energy developers work together, an untapped market can be realized and lead to economic opportunities for all stakeholders,” said Russell Tencer, United Wind CEO and DWEA Board President.
Rural cooperatives and utilities, farmers and agricultural producers, state and local policy makers, cleantech industry members and advocates, and all other interested parties are invited to participate. The full Colorado Distributed Generation Workshop agenda, registration information, and additional details are available at https://distributedwind.org/event/colorado-distributed-generation-workshop/.
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The Distributed Wind Energy Association is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind, commonly referred to as small and community wind, is the use of typically smaller wind turbines at homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities to off-set all or a portion of on-site energy consumption. DWEA represents members from all sectors with relevant interests pertaining to the distributed wind industry. For more information on DWEA, please go to www.distributedwind.org. Follow us on Twitter @DWEA and like us on Facebook.
For more information:
Jennifer Jenkins, Distributed Wind Energy Association
jjenkins@distributedwind.org, (928) 380-6012
