In search of “community based” energy projects

Here are three more interesting websites for organizations that support community based energy, one focusing on wind nationwide; one on rural homes, schools, farms and businesses; and one on urban centers in the Southwest.

“Windustry”

Windustry® promotes progressive renewable energy solutions and empowers communities to develop and own wind energy as an environmentally sustainable asset. Through member-supported outreach, education and advocacy they work to remove the barriers to broad community ownership of wind energy.

Windustry's programs include an information hotline, educational materials, advocacy for wind energy policy, outreach events for communities and a biennial national conference on community owned wind energy.

Wind power development comes in many shapes and sizes, but local or community ownership of wind turbines contributes most significantly to local economic development benefits. Essentially, Community Wind means that one or more members of the local community have a significant financial stake in the project. Examples of Community Wind projects include farmer-owned wind turbines, school wind projects, municipal utility or rural electric cooperative wind installations, and tribal community wind projects.

Windustry encourages community wind projects by developing practical tools, information and expertise to help communities and landowners evaluate the feasibility of a community wind project.

The Rural Assistance Center

A product of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Initiative, the Rural Assistance Center was established in December 2002 as a rural health and human services "information portal." RAC helps rural communities and other rural stakeholders access a full range of available programs, funding and research that enable them to provide high-quality health and human services to rural residents.

Among their services are grants that they provide for renewable energy and weatherization programs and projects of rural homes, schools, farms and businesses.

The Urban Energy Program at Columbia University

From their website:

Around the world, cities have begun to examine their energy use and plan for a more sustainable energy future, employing a range of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and ‘clean energy’ strategies. Climate change concerns are giving a new prominence to these efforts, compounding longstanding worries over local energy security, air pollution levels, or economic competitiveness.

Shifting to a new energy path and reducing a city’s carbon footprint requires an understanding of the various technological solutions open to cities and the many institutional factors influencing their implementation. New policies and market instruments promoting the mitigation of — and adaptation to — climate change are similarly complex when viewed at the city level.

The Urban Energy Program at Columbia University's Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy (CEMTPP) employs innovative approaches to analyze urban energy markets, governance, and technology and their links to a wide range of important public policy goals. The Center's research provides local policymakers and other stakeholders with an understanding of the institutional and other system barriers to (or sometimes, opportunities for) change. Their work involves economists, planners, regulatory specialists and technology experts, both from within the Columbia University community and at partner institutions around the world.

CEMTPP's Urban Energy Project comprises:
• Original research on local energy governance and markets
• Urban Energy "Academy" for local authorities and other market stakeholders
• Secretariat of the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN)
• Student research opportunities