Policy and Research about Wind Energy
Do you want to learn more about local, state, and federal wind policy? Are you curious about a specific area of wind energy and need more resources? Are you looking to better understand or help others understand why wind is so important? You have come to the right place!
Policy Information
Find information about policy that affects both wind energy in general and community wind specifically in the Policy Information section. These resources will be useful both to people trying to figure out how existing policies affect them, and to elected officials and others trying to figure out how they can create and improve policies for wind and community wind. There is information on Local, State, and Federal policy as well as resources and community-based energy development in the policy section.
Benefits of Wind and Community Wind
If you are working to learn more about wind and community wind and their importance in the world today, this is the place to go! Also, if you are looking to help others understand why wind is an important renewable resource and why community wind is beneficial, this is a great place to start. After this section you may want to visit our Wind Basic series and our Community Wind Toolbox.
Search our Resource Library
Search for and access just about every resource and page on our website through our library. If there is a specific topic you're interested in, this is a great way to find everything we've got about it!
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When President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, the legislation contained a Buy America provision. This section 1605 of the ARRA requires that all of the iron and steel and “manufactured goods” used in ARRA-funded projects for construction, alteration, maintenance or repair of “a public building or public work” be “produced in the United States.”
The US currently generates close to nine percent of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower. During the past several years, renewable electricity markets have surged as a result of new federal and state policies.
More states authorizing local governments to provide loans for small-scale renewable energy projects
In collaboration with Amanda Zidek-Vanega (DSIRE)
A growing number of states have adopted a policy that encourages development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects: Property Tax Financing Authorization. The concept began in Colorado and California and has now gained momentum in a number of other states.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has issued a report that provides an overview of existing wind energy ordinances across the country. The increase in wind energy development also creates a new responsibility on the part of local governments to ensure that ordinances will be established to aid development of safe facilities that are embraced by the community.
Perspectives on an NWCC/NREL Assessment of Distributed Wind offers a summary analysis of distributed wind generation in Europe and what lessons the European system offers for distributed generation in the U.S. The paper discusses many of the issues and benefits related to distributed wind generation.
