Initiative creates one-stop resource for green power information
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The Public Renewables Partnership Web site brings together the latest information on the use of green power, and developments and events in the industry. Western is among the many organizations that contributed resources and expertise to the project.
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The Public Renewables Partnership Web site brings together the latest information on the use of green power, and developments and events in the industry. Western is among the many organizations that contributed resources and expertise to the project.
Most public power providers can recite the benefits of renewable energy in their sleep, but ask for specific information from portfolio analysis to resource planning to consumer education, and they are likely to become lost in a maze of Web sites, industry literature and phone calls.
To make it easier for electric co-ops, municipal utilities and tribal utility authorities to increase their use and promotion of renewable energy technologies, Western teamed up with several organizations to form the Public Renewables Partnership. "Effective partnerships are what it's all about," said Randy Manion, manager for Western's Renewable Resources Program.
"The initiative brings together diverse stakeholders to share experiences, reduce duplication of effort, ensure maximum distribution of essential technical and outreach information, identify potential research and study collaborations and aggregate demand for utility- and distributed-scale renewable energy projects," he explained.
Collectively managed by several organizations, PRP draws on the resources of Federal and state agencies, the Department of Energy's power marketing administrations and national laboratories and energy providers' associations. Management partners include Western, the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions, American Public Power Association and DOE's Wind Powering America and GeoPowering the West programs.
Web site organizes vast resources of participating agencies
The hub of the partnership is the PRP Web site, developed with support from APPA's Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments program. DEED invested $75,000 in developing a central location that presents timely and updated information about green power programs, renewable energy technologies, products and services in an efficient, accessible format. Much of the information is available to all visitors, while other pages are restricted to PRP members only. Visitors may access the following pages:
- Calendars of events — a comprehensive list of links with information on workshops, seminars, state working group meetings and major renewable energy conferences.
- State activities/resources — information about wind and geothermal working groups in each state.
- National activities/resources — links to organizations from the American Wind Energy Association and the Geothermal Resource Council to the Florida Solar Energy Center and the National Wind Coordinating Committee.
- Key industry contacts — renewable energy experts at Federal, state and local levels.
- Grants, funding and RFPs — Federal, state and other funding sources for renewable energy and technology development grants.
- Certified green power suppliers — programs and organizations that currently offer green power certification services.
- Consumer education — resources for educating consumers about renewable energy. Information ranges from that suitable for the general public to curriculum ideas for kindergarten through high school.
PRP members benefit from a variety of resources that will aid with planning, marketing and procurement, including:
- Tools for marketing renewable resources and conducting market research with customers — proven marketing material, always a valuable resource for small utilities on a tight budget.
- Tools for identifying and screening renewable energy projects — the best resources for evaluating renewable resource potential and technology application.
- Reports and publications — literature of interest to utilities considering renewable energy resources and technologies are listed here.
- Project development case studies — an assortment of renewable energy technology project case studies to help utilities evaluate a technology and application before investing in it. Members may also share their own case studies for posting.
- Partnership opportunities – a log of member utilities seeking partners for renewable energy projects. An on-line form helps connect members with others interested in similar projects.
- Tools for presentation — a database of PowerPoint presentations on topics covering clean air, wind, geothermal, solar, economic development and more.
All public utilities can enjoy PRP benefits
Membership in PRP is opened to all consumer-owned utilities that believe that the use of renewable energy technologies enhances customer choice, develops domestic economic opportunities and protects the environment. Utilities may join the PRP either through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Cooperative Research Network or APPA's DEED program. Current CRN member should contact Ed Torrero for a password to the PRP site's members-only section. Current DEED members can call Michele Ghosh at APPA for their password.
Western urges all its customers to visit the Public Renewables Partnership Web site and see what membership has to offer. Thanks to the PRP partners, a few mouse clicks can bring the smallest consumer-owned utility closer to the benefits of renewable resources without feeling like a mouse itself.