Community Supported Wind Power
(Page 5 of 6)
June/July 2008
By Greg Pahl
The Next Step
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OK, if community supported wind is such a great idea, why aren’t there more successful examples in North America? Unfortunately, in the absence of a coherent national energy policy, the rules and regulations governing community wind (and other local renewable energy) projects vary considerably from state to state, making it difficult to offer a simple, one-size-fits-all approach for success.
In most states, there’s a regulatory environment and approval process that does virtually nothing to encourage these types of projects. For the most part, community wind isn’t even on the radar screen of most regulators, and the high cost of the approval process (often $100,000 to $500,000 or more in zoning approval charges, permitting fees and other miscellaneous costs) halts most community based initiatives before they even get started. Plus, federal energy production tax credits (PTC) for wind farms favor large-scale corporate projects that are beyond the means of local communities.
However, one of the best regulatory models in North America at the present time is the new Standard Offer Contracts in Ontario, Canada. Announced early in 2006, this could be a historic step toward a sustainable energy future. Standard Offer Contracts allow homeowners, landowners, farmers, cooperatives, schools, municipalities and others to install renewable energy projects of up to 10 megawatts, and sell the power to the grid for a fixed price for 20 years. The Ontario Standard Offer Contracts provide a model that other provinces and states should consider when developing their own renewable energy laws and regulations.
Admittedly, economies of scale tend to favor larger projects, and getting a community wind initiative up and running can be a lot of hard work that requires a good deal of persistence. Nevertheless, there are thousands of examples of successful community wind projects around the world that clearly demonstrate that the extra effort is worth it.
Community supported wind is an idea whose time has definitely arrived, and I am convinced that if this strategy were to be adopted across the nation, it could fundamentally alter the entire debate about most wind (and other local renewable energy) proposals. Many cities and towns in the country have the potential for one or more community supported wind projects. Perhaps you can start one in your community.
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