2. Overview
Energy production and consumption have considerations that
affect both sustainability and economy. Indeed, not only the
depletion of fossil resources and generated greenhouse gasses
emissions, as a consequence of a coal and oil based model, or
the occupation of natural spaces for renewable models of
centralized production should be taken into account, but also
the increasing cost of energy.
4. Introduction
Local governments can dramatically reduce their carbon footprint by
purchasing or directly generating electricity from clean, renewable sources.
The most common renewable power technologies include:
•Solar (photovoltaic, solar thermal)
•Wind
•Biogas (e.g., landfill gas/wastewater treatment digester gas)
•Geothermal
•Biomass
•Low-impact hydroelectricity
•Emerging technologies - wave and tidal power
5. Renewable Energies in Cities - Options
Options for using renewable energy include:
1. Generating renewable energy on-site using a system or device at the location where
the power is used (e.g., PV panels on a state building, geothermal heat pumps, biomass-
fueled combined heat and power).
2. Purchasing green power through renewable energy certificates (RECs) - also known
as green tags, green energy certificates, or tradable renewable certificates – that
represent the technology and environmental attributes of electricity generated from
renewable resources.
3. Purchasing renewable energy from an electric utility through a green pricing or green
marketing program, where buyers pay a small premium in exchange for electricity
generated locally from green power resources.
6. Implementing On-site Renewable Energy Projects
On-site power generation provides local governments with the most direct access to
renewable energy. In addition to the overall benefits, on-site projects also provide a
hedge against financial risks and improve power quality and supply reliability.
However, local governments considering on-site generation may face possible technical,
financial, and regulatory challenges. To overcome these challenges, local governments
can:
1. Assess the availability of local renewable resources
2. Consider the costs of different renewable technologies
3. Examine the aggregate costs and benefits of on-site green power
4. Consider permitting requirements for locations where the facility could be sited
5. Involve local stakeholders, particularly concerning siting
6. Assess available sources of financing and other incentives
