Associate Monica Lamb examines the trajectory of the renewable power sector in the US over the next few years in a four-part podcast series. In this episode, she looks at the key areas supporting increased renewable energy use: net metering, the Clean Power Plan, tax policies and renewable energy offsetting infrastructure investment.
There are varying underlying pieces which will set the path toward increased use of renewable energy in the US. In the first of our four-part series on renewable energy, Monica Lamb discusses:
Net Metering Policies
The way in which net metering policies are resolved will determine whether residential solar can remain such a strong segment of the solar industry, examining the recent events in Nevada.
The Clean Power Plan Driving Renewable Energy Regeneration
The Department of Energy projects that renewables will increase from 13% of power capacity today to 27% in 2040 (a higher increase than without the CPP). The DOE forecasts that through 2021, 112 GW of solar and wind capacity will be added with the CPP.
Tax Policy Incentives
Tax policy changes at the end of last year benefited both solar and wind—however, solar tax breaks were extended through 2021, while those for wind would run out three years earlier in 2018, which will shift the weight of investment toward solar.
Renewable Energy Offsetting Infrastructure Investment
In the next three years, more than 4 GW of New England's 31 GW of capacity is scheduled to come offline and another 6 GW is "at risk." Renewable energy investments in New York and New England can offset the great need for infrastructure investment.
Listen to podcast here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF6CbUSW9i4
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