MODEL INITIATIVES – RENEWABLES
Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and workmanship to build and maintain facilities, rather than on energy imports. This helps to create local jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce reliance on foreign sources of energy. With direct control over local zoning and land use, municipalities can establish codes, policies, and guidelines to encourage the installation and use of renewable sources of energy.
Potential initiatives include:
- Explore feasibility of additional solar, wind, and geothermal systems at municipal facilities.
- Explore public-private partnerships to provide sites for new renewable technology projects.
- Evaluate existing requirements for renewable energy at municipality facilities. (Prince George County, Maryland: requires the County to budget an additional 2 percent in construction costs for every building to pay for a renewable energy installation. Every building must have 1 kilowatt of clean energy for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. 2013)
- Seek renewable incentives from PSEG, if unavailable; look to purchase Green Power through the EPA Green Power Purchase program.
