A new report on energy investment in the American West over the next 40 years shows that states need to do more than just meet mandatory renewable energy targets if they hope to transition to profitable clean economies – they must exceed current mandates and make significant changes today to affect the future.
The report, “Western Grid 2050: Contrasting Futures, Contrasting Fortunes” was prepared for policy makers by the Western Grid Group (WGG) with support from the Western Clean Energy Advocates (WCEA) – a broad alliance of more than 25 renewable energy industry and regulatory experts.
Central to the report’s Clean Energy Vision is a future in which $200 billion in funding for energy infrastructure across the west would be directed into aggressively pursuing small-scale renewable energy generation capacity and a complete transition away from conventional coal-fired electricity. Large-scale renewable sources would fill generation gaps and natural gas would be limited to meet carbon emission reduction targets.
“It is time to rethink our grid,” says report author Carl Linvill. “Advances in information, communications and clean energy technologies have opened the opportunity to overcome the barriers of 20th century grid technology and transition to a 21st century clean energy economy in the West.”
The report examines and compares two scenarios to 2050: Clean Energy Vision (CEV); and Business as Usual (BAS). Under every category, from local job creation to increased energy security; to lower electricity costs; to health, the CEV modelling was shown to deliver more benefit to Western states.
“In my time as Governor, Colorado saw tremendous benefit from our commitment to clean energy,” said former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. “I call on Western state policymakers to similarly prioritize clean energy and to reach across state lines to help build a stronger energy future for the West.”
The full “Western Grid 2050: Contrasting Futures, Contrasting Fortunes” can be accessed here.
