Washington, D.C. – Over 400 renewable energy industry leaders gathered at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE)'s national policy conference "Phase II of Renewable Energy in America: Market Forecasts and Policy Requirments" that took place in Washington, DC from November 29-30, 2006.
Leaders convened at Phase II to reaffirm that the industry can, and must, do above and beyond the current forecasts and expectations -- that, with changes in policy, renewable energy can be 25% by 2025 and as much as 50% of US energy supply by 2050.
Keynote speakers included Thomas Friedman, journalist, columnist, author and three-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize from the New York Times; Vivenne Cox, BP’s Managing Director for Renewables, Alternatives, Gas and Power; Richard Kelly, Chairman and CEO of Xcel Energy; and Alexander "Andy" Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy and many others.
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"Renewable energy is increasingly a source of job creation and economic growth," stated Alexander "Andy" Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. "We are making record progress, domestic alternative fuel production is growing at a record rate -- particularly bio fuels, ethanol, and bio diesel -- and we are looking at ways of using electricity as a fuel source. The President has laid out specific metrics for cellulosic ethanol by 2012, out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. And by 2030, 30 percent of our domestic fuel supply from domestic sources."
All m ajor trade associations, research institutions, environmental groups, and government agencies presented their forecasts and underlying assumptions.
The packed Cannon Caucus Room included over 400 renewable energy industry leaders, countless directors from the non-profit, research institution and association field involved in policy planning, and congressional energy staffers all gathered to hear where the industry is heading in the next 25 years.
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Phase I of renewable energy in America was the period 1975-2000, centered on Federally-funded research, development and demonstration (RD&D) programs that were successful. After 25 years of effort by our nation's best scientists and engineers, and approximately $15 billion spent, the US has an array of new technologies in wind power, solar energy, hydropower, ocean energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy and biofuels.
Pat Wood, Former FERC Commissioner and Phase II Co-Chair stated that, “Phase II policies began at the state level with the passage of Renewable Portfolio Standards and economic incentives. As a result, many Americans now appreciate the contribution made by renewable technologies to addressing key issues with domestic energy supply, national security, economic stability, environmental protection, global warming, investment opportunities, and job creation. To provide reasonable investment stability for clean, domestic energy production we now need to adopt appropriate long-term federal policies to support energy entrepreneurs and their investors.
"By reducing our dependence on foreign oil, Phase II aims to diversify our nation's energy mix, ultimately changing the way we power our cars, homes and businesses. Cellulosic ethanol, hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and biodiesel engines all show great promise in breaking our addiction to oil," remarked Henry "Hank" Habicht, CEO of Global Environment & Technology Foundation, Managing Partner at SAIL Venture Partners LP, and Phase II Co-Chair.
"We heard a number of steps that the state and federal governments can take to provide the sort of policy stability necessary for the industry and its investors to grow the industry so that the forecasted potential can be realized," stated John Geesman, Commissioner, California Energy Commission and Co-Chairman of ACORE's Board of Directors. "These ranged from changes in tax policy to adoption of a national renewable portfolio standard. Many of these steps emanated from a national long-range vision about the need for a broad range of renewables. At the end of the day, everyone agrees that ACORE's Phase II provides the forum to express a new vision, set high goals, and develop a forward-thinking, stable policy for the benefit of all Americans."
"All of us agree that we renewables are becoming a major player in the United States today," Eckhart noted, "Now is the time for all of us to commit to moving renewables into the mainstream."
Sponsors of the event include Platinum Sponsor: BP Alternative Energy; Gold Sponsors: Cornell Capital Partners and Dynamotive Energy Systems; Silver Sponsors: Babcock & Brown and Rollcast Energy; Diamond Sponsors: Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP, Milbank, Ormat, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, SunPower; with Sterling Planet greening the event.
Sustanting Members of Phase II were the California Energy Commission, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
The Phase II process has been supporting by 40 organizations including: Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, American Planning Association, American Public Power Association, American Solar Energy Society, American Wind Energy Association, Association of Energy Engineers, Biomass Coordinating Council, California Clean Energy Fund, Center for American Progress, Center for Resource Solutions, Clean Air Cool Planet, Clean Energy Group, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life of Southern California, Community Environmental Council, Consumer Energy Council of America, Electric Power Research Institute, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Environmental Markets Association, Geothermal Energy Association, Global Energy Network Institute, Global Green, Interfaith Environmental Council, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, National Associate of State Energy Officials, National Corn Growers Association, National Hydrogen Association, National Hydropower Association, National Rural Electric Co-op Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Renewable Fuels Association, Solar Electric Power Association, Solar Electric Industries Association, Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Resources Institute, and Worldwatch Institute.
Information on Phase II is available at: www.acore.org/programs/06policy.php.
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