NRECA and its member cooperatives support power developed from renewable resources that naturally replenish, utilize residual materials, or recycle waste.
NRECA is an active participant in the development of a national renewable energy policy and believes that any such policy must:
- Provide appropriate funding for research and development;
- Include incentives to fully utilize domestic resources that are available to all segments of the industry on an equitable basis, including Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs);
- Not impose mandates on electric utilities if they would undermine local board control of power supply decision-making, threaten system reliability, or unduly raise the cost of electricity for members.
- Recognize that electric power from federally owned hydroelectric projects are especially important sources of affordable electricity for electric co-ops.
To learn more about NRECA’s position affecting Renewable Energy, please select the links below.
News:
Senator Baucus Unveils Renewable Energy Bill
May 8, 2008 - Senate bill includes $400 million for Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. more >>
S&P Raises Doubts on Renewable Standards
April 11, 2008 - Portfolio standards force utilities to shift from least-cost sources toward above-market renewable sources in unprecedented quantities, says ratings firm. more >>
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NRECA Supports House Bill to Make Geothermal Heat Pumps Eligible for a Tax Credits
November 20, 2007 - NRECA joins Alliance to Save Energy and American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy in thanking Representatives Lloyd Doggett and Bart Gordon for introducing a bill promoting geothermal heat pumps. more >>
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Study Suggests Future Demand for Renewable Energy Will Exceed Capacity
November 12, 2007 - Despite tremendous growth in wind energy capacity, a comparison of projected renewable energy supply with the growing demand, owing largely to state portfolio standards, shows renewable energy supply falling short. more >>
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Cooperatives Gain New Incentive to Promote Efficiency and Renewable Energy
October 16, 2007 - National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) have signed an agreement to provide financing for co-op projects to reduce energy usage at DOI facilities. more >>
Renewable Energy Consumption Increased Two Percent in 2005 and Seven Percent in 2006
August 30, 2007 - Texas overtakes California in wind capacity; hydroelectric generation increases in the Northwest and falls in Southeast. more >>
Documents:
Renewable Energy Fast Facts
Type: Fast Fact Date: 2008-02-22 Size: 87KB- Clean Renewable Energy Bonds Fast Facts
Comparable Renewable Generation Incentives
Type: Fast Fact Date: 2008-01-11 Size: 86KB - NRECA perspective on proposal for a national renewable portfolio standard.
Responding to an inquiry from Representative John Dingell, chairman on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, NRECA pointed to successful approaches to developing renewable fuels and outlined concerns about the disproportionate economic impact of a federal mandate.
Type: Position Paper Date: 2007-06-19 Size: 56KB - Electric Cooperatives and Energy Efficiency
Type: Flyer Date: 2007-04-23 Size: 226KB - Co-ops Act to Curb Greenhouse Gases, Report Shows
A report submitted this month to the Department of Energy shows that electric co-ops are among the leaders in the effort to reduce the intensity of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Type: Letter Date: 2007-01-23 Size: 3600KB - Electric Cooperatives and Alternative Energy
Learn about electric cooperatives and alternative energy.
Type: Flyer Date: 2007-01-18 Size: 350KB - Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
CREBs deliver an incentive comparable to the Production Tax Credit that is available to private developers and investor owned utilities.
Type: Filing Date: 2006-03-27 Size: 205KB - NRECA Joins “25 x 25”
NRECA’s CEO Glenn English has joined the Steering Committee of the Agriculture Energy Work Group to help shape a new energy paradigm to secure America’s future. The Work group is focused on using agriculture and forestry products to produce an increasing share of our nation’s energy.
Type: Date: 2006-02-10 Size: 14KB 
Renewable Energy: A Co-op Point of View
NRECA supports power developed from renewable resources that naturally replenish, utilize residual materials, or recycle waste . . . The use of these resources can be beneficial to our environment and assist rural economies throughout much of the U.S.
Type: Presentation Date: 2005-12-02 Size: 498KB- Comments of NRECA and APPA on FERC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative Technologies
For the foregoing reasons, APPA and NRECA respectfully request that the Commission accept the proposed Appendix G with the changes described above.
Type: Filing Date: 2005-12-02 Size: 51KB - White Paper on Wind Power
Wind energy is an attractive resource because of its lower cost compared to other renewable resources, speed of construction, lack of fuel costs and emissions, and its ability to be sited easily on land used for grazing or farming. But, wind energy can raise concerns, such as creating hazards for birds and visual and noise issues. As an energy source, wind is intermittent, making it unreliable as a baseload source of electricity, and energy storage options are expensive. In addition, good sites for wind may not be where there is a demand for power or transmission facilities to transport it. The NRECA White Paper on Wind Power was developed to provide an objective look at wind power
Type: Whitepaper Date: 2005-12-02 Size: 641KB