Interstate Renewable Energy Council

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Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
Formation1982 (1982)
TypeNon-profit organization
PurposeIREC builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet.
Headquarters Albany, NY and Washington, D.C., United States
President and CEO
Larry Sherwood
Website www.irecusa.org

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), established in 1982, [1] is a non-profit organization working with clean energy. [2] It is based in Latham, New York.

Contents

IREC works to expand consumer access to clean energy, generates information and objective analysis in best practices and standards, and leads programs in building clean energy workforces. It is an accredited American National Standards developer. [3] The organization is overseen by a board of directors, and employs a range of technical and policy experts.

Mission, Vision, and Brief History

Mission

IREC's website states that, "IREC builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet." [2]

Vision

IREC envisions a "100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable." [2]

Brief History

IREC has worked on regulatory and workforce issues surrounding renewable energy since its incorporation in 1982. That includes work to shape the renewable energy regulatory landscape in 42 states and Puerto Rico, [4] workforce development support that includes delivering thousands of courses on renewable energy, and the creation of a variety of clean energy career resources that have been used by tens of thousands of people to understand opportunities in clean energy jobs. [4] [5] [6]

In 2021, IREC merged with the Solar Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1977 to further solar energy in the United States. [4] [7] The Solar Foundation's work now continues under the IREC umbrella, including its major National Solar Jobs Census report, released each year to detail the growth and development of the American solar industry. [8] [9] [10]

Programs

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council has three major program areas: clean energy workforce development strategies, local clean energy solutions, and regulatory engagement. These program areas encompass a wide variety of renewable energy-related work across the United States. [2]

Local Initiatives

The local initiatives division at IREC works to expand access to clean energy on the local government level and further support the growth of renewable energy and renewable energy-related jobs. This work includes the SolSmart program, an initiative that works to with local governments to enact solar-friendly policies; [11] [12] the Sustainable Energy Action Committee, a national forum for local stakeholders to address issues with code enforcement and permitting relating to renewable energy; [13] and the Puerto Rico Solar Business Accelerator, an initiative that supports solar workforce development, expanded solar access, and the installation of solar-plus-storage microgrids in the territory. [14] [15]

Regulatory Engagement

IREC works to enact policies and regulatory reforms that support greater access to renewable energy. [16] This work includes participation in regulatory proceedings to support more efficient and effective distributed energy resources interconnection processes; [17] technical assistance and guidance that informs efforts related to solar, storage, and other clean energy technologies; and model rules and best practices. [16]

Workforce Development

IREC works to support the development of a highly-trained and inclusive renewable energy workforce. [18] That includes clean energy training and resources, resources like clean energy career maps [19] [20] and the National Solar Jobs Census, [21] [22] support for veterans, [23] and the National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance, "a cross-sector effort to improve clean energy education, training, and job placement outcomes—and ensure that expanding clean energy job opportunities are inclusive of diverse candidates and underserved communities". [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in the United States</span>

Solar power includes solar farms as well as local distributed generation, mostly on rooftops and increasingly from community solar arrays. In 2022, utility-scale solar power generated 145.6 terawatt-hours (TWh), or 3.4% of electricity in the United States. Total solar generation that year, including estimated small-scale photovoltaic generation, was 204 TWh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Colorado</span>

Solar power in Colorado has grown rapidly, partly because of one of the most favorable net metering laws in the country, with no limit on the number of users. The state was the first in the nation to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard for its electric utilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Connecticut</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Connecticut

Solar power in Connecticut establishes Connecticut as the second state in the US to reach grid parity, after Hawaii, due to the high average cost of electricity. Installing solar panels for a home provides an estimated 15.6% return on investment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Michigan</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Michigan

Solar power in Michigan has been growing in recent years due to new technological improvements, falling solar prices and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives. The largest solar farm in Michigan is Assembly Solar, completed in 2022, which has 347 MW of capacity. Small-scale solar provided 50% of Michigan solar electricity as recently as 2020 but multiple solar farms in the 100 MW to 200 MW range are proposed to be completed by the middle of the decade. Although among the lowest U.S. states for solar irradiance, Michigan mostly lies farther south than Germany where solar power is heavily deployed. Michigan is expected to use 120 TWh per year in 2030. To reach a 100% solar electrical grid would require 2.4% of Michigan's land area to host 108 GW of installed capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Wyoming</span>

Solar power in Wyoming has the potential to generate 72 million MWh/yr. Wyoming used 12 million MWh in 1999. Net metering is available to all consumers generating up to 25 kW. The state has an installed capacity of 146 MW as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Utah</span>

The U.S. state of Utah has the solar potential to provide all of the electricity used in the United States. Utah is one of the seven states with the best potential for solar power, along with California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. Utah's only investor owned utility currently allows partial net metering for residential systems up to 25 kW and up to 2 MW for non-residential users. In the past RMP allowed full net metering, and partial net metering. Neither of these Schedules allows for new customers to sign up any longer. Utah's municipal utilities and electric cooperatives set their own net metering policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Rhode Island</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Rhode Island

Solar power in Rhode Island has become economical due to new technological improvements and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives, particularly a 30% federal tax credit, available through 2016, for any size project. A typical residential installation could pay for itself in utility bill savings in 14 years, and generate a profit for the remainder of its 25 year life. Larger systems, from 10 kW to 5 MW, receive a feed-in tariff of up to 33.45¢/kWh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Indiana</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Indiana

Solar power in Indiana has been growing in recent years due to new technological improvements and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives, particularly a 30% federal tax credit for any size project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Kansas</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Kansas

Solar power in Kansas has been growing in recent years due to new technological improvements and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in West Virginia</span> Electricity from sunlight in one U.S. state

Solar power in West Virginia on rooftops can provide 23% of all electricity used in West Virginia from 6,300 MW of solar panels, but West Virginia will be the last state in the United States to reach grid parity - the point where solar panels are cheaper than grid electricity - without incentives, due to the low cost of electricity - about $0.062/kWh. The point where grid parity is reached is a product of the average insolation and the average cost of electricity. At $0.062/kWh and 4.3 sun-hours/day, solar panels would need to come down to ~$1,850/kW installed to achieve grid parity. The first state in the US to achieve grid parity was Hawaii. Solar power's favorable carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels is a major motivation for expanding renewable energy in the state, especially when compared to coal to generate electrical power.

Solar power in North Dakota has been a little-used resource. The state ranks last on installed solar power in the United States, with .47 MW of installed capacity. Solar on rooftops can provide 24.6% of all electricity used in North Dakota from 3,300 MW of solar panels. The most cost effective application for solar panels is for pumping water at remote wells where solar panels can be installed for $800 vs. running power lines for $15,000/mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Maine</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Maine

Solar power in Maine on rooftops, utilizing 6,300 megawatts (MW) of solar panels, can provide 60% of the electricity used in Maine according to a 2016 U.S. Department of Energy study. Maine and Vermont are tied for the second highest rooftop solar potential in the country, only behind the state of California. A 2020 estimate suggests that a typical 5.6 kilowatt (kW) residential system will pay for itself in 6-7 years and generate a profit of $45,000 over the rest of its 25-year life from the tax credits and utility savings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Georgia (U.S. state)</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Georgia

Solar power in Georgia on rooftops can provide 31% of all electricity used in Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Maryland</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Maryland

Solar power in Maryland is supported by the state's legislation regarding the Renewable Portfolio Standard and Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program. The target for renewable energy as of 2017 is 20% by 2020, including 2% from solar power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in New Hampshire</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of New Hampshire

Solar power in New Hampshire provides a small percentage of the state's electricity. State renewable requirements and declining prices have led to some installations. Photovoltaics on rooftops can provide 53.4% of all electricity used in New Hampshire, from 5,300 MW of solar panels, and 72% of the electricity used in Concord, New Hampshire. A 2016 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 9 years, and generate a profit of $34,196 over the rest of its 25-year life. A loan or lease provides a net savings each year, including the first year. New Hampshire has a rebate program which pays $0.75/W for residential systems up to 5 kW, for up to 50% of the system cost, up to $3,750. However, New Hampshire's solar installation lagged behind nearby states such as Vermont and New York, which in 2013 had 10 times and 25 times more solar, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Vermont</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Vermont

Solar power in Vermont provides almost 11% of the state's in-state electricity production as of 2018. A 2009 study indicated that distributed solar on rooftops can provide 18% of all electricity used in Vermont. A 2012 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 10 years, and generate a profit of $34,956 over the rest of its 25-year life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Virginia</span>

Solar power in Virginia on rooftops is estimated to be capable of providing 32.4% of electricity used in Virginia using 28,500 MW of solar panels. Installing solar panels provides a 6.8% return on investment in Virginia, and a 5 kW array would return a profit of $16,041 over its 25 year life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Wisconsin</span> Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Solar power in Wisconsin In 2026, Wisconsin rooftops can accommodate approximately 37 GWs of solar capacity and produce 44,183 GWh of electricity, nearly 70% of the statewide generation in 2019. Net metering is available for systems up to at least 20 kW, and excess generation is credited at retail rate to customers next bill. Some utilities allow net metering up to 100 kW. For Xcel customers, kilowatt credits are rolled over monthly and are reconciled annually at avoided cost. Best practices recommend no limits, either individually or aggregate, and perpetual roll over of kilowatt credits.

The SolSmart program, established in 2016, is a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office with a mission to reduce solar soft costs and help local governments across the United States expand the use of solar energy in their jurisdictions. It is managed jointly by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association.

Debra Rowe is a professor at Oakland Community College in Oakland County, Michigan, who has taught classes in energy management, renewable energy, and psychology. Much of her work explores the role of community colleges and other higher education institutions as leaders in educating a population and a workforce that can support the development of a green economy and meet sustainability goals.

References

  1. ↑ "IREC: 40 Years of Impact" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). October 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About IREC". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  3. ↑ "Accredited Standards Developers". American National Standards Institute - ANSI. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. 1 2 3 Wilson, Nicole (2022-11-18). "Celebrating 40 Years of Impact". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  5. ↑ Cosgrove, Anne (2021-03-31). "Green Buildings Career Map Highlights Energy Efficiency Jobs". Facility Executive Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  6. ↑ "The IREC Solar Career Map | AltEnergyMag". www.altenergymag.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  7. ↑ Misbrener, Kelsey (2021-07-16). "IREC merges with The Solar Foundation". Solar Power World. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  8. ↑ says, Edward F. Dijeau (2022-07-26). "Solar jobs increased 9% nationwide in 2021". pv magazine USA. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  9. ↑ "Solar Jobs Census". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  10. ↑ Pickerel, Kelly (2022-07-26). "Solar Jobs Census: U.S. market rebounds from pandemic lows, adds 21,500 jobs in 2021". Solar Power World. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  11. ↑ "DOE-Funded SolSmart Program Expands to Advance Equitable Solar Energy Adoption". DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  12. ↑ "Home". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  13. ↑ "Advancing Consensus-Based, Clean Energy Solutions". Sustainable Energy Action Committee. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  14. ↑ "Puerto Rico and the Caribbean". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  15. ↑ "During a Hurricane, Microgrids Can Keep the Lights On When All Else Fails". Popular Mechanics. 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  16. 1 2 "Regulatory Engagement". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  17. ↑ "To make room for more distributed solar and storage, New Mexico to require smart inverters". pv magazine USA. 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  18. 1 2 "Workforce Development Strategies". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  19. ↑ "Career Maps". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  20. ↑ Thompson, Claire (2022-10-07). "Solar power's continued success rests on diversifying its workforce". Fix. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  21. ↑ "Solar Jobs Census". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  22. ↑ Ludt, Billy (2022-11-02). "Solar organizations prepare to meet job demands stemming from the IRA". Solar Power World. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  23. ↑ "Solar Ready Vets". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-04-10.


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