People, Policy, & Finance / Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a commonsense first step in realizing renewable energy targets. It’s also a critical component of an effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy. Energy efficient buildings, lighting, heating systems and appliances provide the same level...
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In 2008, the Cold Climate Housing Research Center published the first of two reports outlining recommended state programs, initiatives, and goals to reduce end-use energy demand and keep hundreds of millions of dollars in the state’s economy each year. That year, the state...
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Carbon pricing schemes generally fall into two categories: cap and trade systems and carbon taxes. Revenue-positive pricing schemes accrue new revenue for the state, province or nation which can be reinvested in renewable energy development or other programs or funds. ...
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Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy & Resilience (C-PACER) is an innovative financing program that enables owners of commercial and industrial properties to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy and resilience projects and then...
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Clean energy funds support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency by helping remove market barriers and educating the public. State clean energy funds are supported through small, mill-rated utility surcharges called system benefit charges. Programs that...
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On Wednesday, March 15th, Alaska Senator Löki Tobin introduced Senate Bill 101 to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the Railbelt region of Alaska. The legislation would require the five electric utilities on the Railbelt (the interconnected grid that...
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State net metering rules provide an incentive for individuals and businesses to invest in their own small renewable energy systems by allowing them to sell excess power that they produce back into the grid. More than 40 states, including Alaska, offer some form of net...
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State and federal policies that encourage renewable energy projects play a crucial role in their development. For more than 25 years, the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) was the primary incentive tool for renewable electricity in the United States. Congress...
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Soon after REAP was established, we set out to establish programs and policy to support renewable energy development in Alaska. In 2007, REAP brought the idea of a renewable energy grant fund to the legislature and in 2008 the legislature established the Renewable Energy...
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Since 2006, we have published a comprehensive atlas detailing Alaska’s renewable energy resources in cooperation with the Alaska Energy Authority. The Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska contains maps of the state’s wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, biomass, and tidal energy...
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We advocate for using modest amounts of government funding to leverage private financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through what are known as “green banks.” These innovative finance institutions drop the risk of clean energy lending for private...
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Since 2014, REAP has been advocating for the creation of a new regional organization to unite all six Railbelt utilities. On March 20, 2020 the Alaska Legislature finally passed a bill to ensure that an Electric Reliability Organization, or ERO, will be created. The new ERO...
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