by Mike Koshmri, Solar Today
The shift in political power following the November 2010 elections may threaten solar and wind policies in key states. Here’s what’s happening.
Iowa
Four years ago, former Democratic Gov. Chet Culver created the Iowa Power Fund, which provides matching grants and loans for renewable energy projects. The Power Fund has helped grow Iowa’s wind market into the nation’s second largest.
New Republican Gov. Terry Barnstad campaigned against the Fund, telling the Sioux City Journal it was a "colossal failure" and the $25 million budget should be reallocated to reducing taxes. The Fund’s fate hangs in the balance.
New Mexico
One of the first moves for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez was to fire every member of the state’s Environmental Improvement Board for allegedly promoting "anti-business" policies. Then she appointed Harrison Schmitt, an outspoken climate change skeptic, to run New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department.
Martinez halted new greenhouse gas emission regulations that passed in the closing days of former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration. The regulations were later reinstated by the state Supreme Court.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s solar and wind economies are booming, driven by a robust renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS), a statewide Focus on Energy program and a number of municipal incentive programs.
In Milwaukee, the number of solar installers has increased 250% since early 2009. The state’s wind capacity is up to 630 MW, nearly 90% of which has come online since mid-2008.
During Republican Scott Walker’s campaign, he criticized his Democratic opponent, Tom Barrett, for supporting a "radical environmental agenda that will cost us jobs."
After taking office, Walker’s first executive order proposed a regulatory reform that would prohibit developers from siting wind turbines within 1800 feet of the nearest property line, making many projects suddenly economically unfeasible. Walker turned down $801 million in federal stimulus funds to build a high speed train line from Milwaukee to Madison. "It’s a shooting war right now," said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin. "Whole businesses could shut down."
Michigan
Under Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, renewable energy projects made good progress – so much so that there’s a solid base of emerging solar and wind manufacturers and a recognizable green jobs base.
New Republican Gov. Rick Snyder was the first Republican to be endorsed by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and served on the board of The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan chapter.
His administration is not likely to put the brakes on the brightest area of jobs growth for the state. "Michigan has experienced large investment in renewable energy, particularly in the manufacturing side of the business," says Jennifer Alvarado, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, a local American Solar Energy Association (ASES) chapter. "I think Gov. Snyder will want to continue this and use renewable energy as an opportunity for economic development.
Florida
Very little is known about new Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s stance on renewable energy policy.
Florida’s photovoltaic incentive ($4 per watt) sunset June 30, and the state legislature declined to appropriate any funding to restart the program. With no state RPS and no incentive program, it’s looking like a grim 2011 for the Sunshine state’s renewable energy community.
"The new governor says his priority is jobs, jobs, jobs," says Al Simpler, owner of Tallahassee-based Simpler Solar. "Well, the solar industry in Florida has lost roughly 30% of all its integrator businesses, and that’s just since June."
Ohio
As a Fox News personality, Republican Gov. John Kasich has repeatedly challenged climate change science and greenhouse gas policy. He has criticized Ohio’s ambitious RPS, saying it will "drive up utility bills."
Under pressure from the state’s fast-growing renewable energy business community, he’s since backed down from his anti-RPS position.
One of departing Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland’s final pleas was for Kasich to save a $400 million high speed passenger rail project that would have been financed entirely by the federal stimulus package. Before he was sworn into office, Kasich confirmed he would turn down the free federal money.
"We’re hopeful that green jobs will be part of Gov. Kasich’s agenda," says Bill Spratley, executive director of Green Energy Ohio, ASES’s Ohio chapter. "Jobs are the big issue here, and right now there a lot of activity in renewable energy. That’s why I’m optimistic."
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a coal state, and has opened the doors to its Marcellus shale natural gas reserves. Nuclear plants provide 21% of the state’s electricity. During his campaign, incoming Republican Gov. Tom Corbett espoused an energy policy calling for more of everything, especially liquid fuels from coal, gas and biomass.
One goal: "Refocusing the Department of Environmental Protection by getting back to basics." Corbett’s appointment of Patrick Henderson as "energy executive," a new cabinet post, suggests this will not translate into neglect for PA’s growing renewable energy community.
"Patrick has a strong background and knows solar issues," says Maureen Mulligan, owner of Harrisburg-based Sustainable Futures Communications. "As the chief of staff for the Senate Energy, Resources and Environment Committee, he always had an open door to the solar industry."
New Jersey
Renewable energy policy in NJ, which has the nation’s second largest photovoltaic market, has seen its ups and downs since Republican Gov. Chris Christie took office this January.
Amendments to the state’s Energy Master Plan in August bolstered prospects for offshore wind, but put in place tighter restrictions on new onshore wind and solar projects. New installations are now required to be within 120 feet of existing structures on already disturbed land, which will keep clean energy projects away from coastal areas. "The rules make it easier to put up a warehouse than a solar farm, or a Ferris Wheel on a pier than a windmill," says Jeff Tittel, director of the NJ Sierra Club.
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Compiled by Mike Koshmri, Assistant Editor, Solar Today, the magazine of the American Solar Energy Society.
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