Resources
On This Page:
Solar ♦ Biomass ♦ Hydropower ♦ Wind ♦ Geothermal
Below is a list of resources for solar, biomass, hydroelectric, and wind energy.
Solar
Publications
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A Consumer's Guide to Buying A Solar Electric System: Published by the U.S. Department of Energy, September 1999
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How to Size A Grid-Connected Solar Electric System: Published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, August 2002.
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How to Install Solar in Vermont: Published by the Northeast Vermont Development Association
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A Guide to Community Solar: Utility, Private, and Nonprofit Project Development: Published by the U.S. Department of Energy
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The Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems: Published by the U.S. Department of Energy
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Photovoltaics as a Line Extension Alternative: For people who need electric power in a remote location, where a utility line extension may be cost prohibitive, and photovoltaic (PV) may be a perferrable alternative, one possible alternative before investing in a line extension is an off-the-grid PV power system. For purposes of comparison, it is helpful to understand the life cycle costs, lifestyle impacts, and expansion possibilities of a PV system.
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"The Solar Electric Option (Instead of a Power Line Extension)" (PDF 1 MB): An overview of how PV technology works, how PV systems are designed, safety issues, three examples of remote applications, and a glossary of terms. Sixteen pages. Published jointly by the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office.
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"Staff Guidelines on Photovoltaics Versus Line Extensions" (PDF 219 KB): An explanation of three guidelines one utility used to determine whether a PV systems would be cheaper than a line extension over thirty years (overhead single phase, underground single phase, three phase underground). Seven pages. Published by the Arizona Corporation Commission's Utility Division.
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"Creating Informed Customer Choices" (PDF 822 KB): Discusses implications for service quality and compares the economics of PV versus line extensions. Twenty eight pages. By David Berry and Rober Gray, Utilities Division, Arizona Corporation Commission.
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Tracking the Sun IV: An Historical Summary of the Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the United States from 1998 to 2010: Published by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (see also related presentation)
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Websites
- NREL - IMBY: IMBY was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to help individuals estimate the electricity they can produce with a solar photovoltaic (PV) array at their home or business. Homeowners, businesses, and researchers use IMBY to develop quick estimates of renewable energy production at locations throughout the U.S. IMBY uses a map-based interface to allow you to choose the exact location of your PV array. Based on your location, system size, and other variables, IMBY estimates the electricity production you can expect from your system.
- NREL - Open PV Project: The Open PV Project is a collaborative effort between government, industry, and the public that is compiling a comprehensive database of photovoltaic (PV) installation data for the United States. Data for the project are voluntarily contributed from a variety of sources including utilities, installers, and the general public. The data collected is actively maintained by the contributors and are always changing to provide an evolving, up-to-date snapshot of the US solar power market.
- DOE’s Solar America Communities program is committed to developing a sustainable solar infrastructure that removes market barriers and encourages the adoption of solar energy by residents and businesses in local communities. The objective is to develop comprehensive approaches that lay the foundation for a viable solar market and provide a model for communities throughout the United States. The Solar America Communities Outreach Partnership will bring the lessons learned and best practices from the Solar America Cities partnerships to communities across the United States.US DOE/EERE - Solar Energy Technologies Program: The Solar Energy Technologies Program focuses on developing cost-effective solar energy technologies that have the greatest potential to benefit the nation and the world. A growing solar industry also stimulates our economy by creating jobs in solar manufacturing and installation.
- DSIRE Solar Portal: DSIRE Solar provides comprehensive information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote solar energy. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Program, DSIRE Solar provides solar-specific policy information to consumers, policy makers, businesses, utilities, researchers and other stakeholders.
Biomass
Publications
- Biomass Energy Development Working Group Final Report: VT Legislative Council
- VCC Report: Evaluating Potential Uses of Vermont's Wood Biomass for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Vermont Climate Collaborative
- State Forest Resource Assessment: VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study: Manoment Center for Conservation Sciences
- Vermont Biofuels Initiative: Local Production for Local Use to Supply a Portion of Vermont's Energy Needs
Websites
- Biomass Energy Resource Center
- VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
- VT Sustainable Jobs Fund Bioenergy Initiative
- VT School Energy Management Program
Hydropower
Publications
- An Assessment of Energy Potential at Non-Powered Dams in the United States: U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Hydropower Resource Assessment for Vermont: Idaho National Laboratory
- The Development of Small Hydroelectric Projects in Vermont: VT Agency of Natural Resources
Websites
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Small/Low Impact Hydropower Program: This website provides resources for hydropower developers on federal permitting regulations for small (generally < 5 MW) and low-impact hydropower projects.
Wind
Publications
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Commission on Wind Energy Regulatory Policy Final Report & Attachments
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Utility-Scale Wind Energy Planning Resources: This is the product of the Wind Siting Consensus Building Project sponsored by the Public Service Department to build consensus on the appropriate siting of utility-scale wind energy in Vermont, published in 2002.
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Small Wind Electric Systems: This is a consumer guide by the U.S. Department of Energy on small, residential-scale wind systems (published in 2002).
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Residential Wind Siting Handbook: This is a guide to siting residential wind turbines published by the Vermont Public Service Board.
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Small Wind: Is it Right for You?: This is a fact sheet which provides information about the planning and permitting process for small-scale wind turbines.
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Wind Energy and Vermont's Scenic Landscape: This is landscape architect Jean Vissering's discussion paper based on the Wind Siting Consensus Building Project.
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2011 Wind Technologies Market Report: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory publishes an update to this report about trends in wind turbine technology, policy, and pricing every year. Also see the summary presentation.
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A Visual Assessment Process for Wind Energy Projects: Landscape architect Jean Vissering wrote this generalized visual assessment methodology for Clean Energy States Alliance in 2011. She looks at effective state and local policies, practices, and methodologies to evaluate the visual impacts associated with wind development projects.
- Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines: Published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2012, these voluntary guidelines are designed to help wind energy project developers avoid and minimize impacts of land-based wind projects on wildlife and their habitats.
- Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study: This 2010 National Renewable Energy Laboratory study examines the operational impact of up to 20-30% energy penetration of wind on the power system in the Eastern Interconnect of the United States and sets out to answer questions that utilities, regional transmission operators, and planning organizations had about wind energy and transmission development in the east.
Websites
- DOE Wind Powering America Program: Wind Powering America is a nationwide initiative designed to increase the use of wind energy across the United States by working with regional stakeholders. State-by-state breakdowns of wind resource potential, success stories, installed wind capacity, news, events, and other resources are updated regularly.
- Small Wind Energy News is a website from the folks at IREC, which also publishes the Small Wind Newsletter each month, to keep readers up-to-date on the latest news and resources for small wind.
- Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC): The SWCC, an independent organization, assesses and issues certificates and consumer labels for the performance and safety of small wind turbines in accordance with criteria established in the AWEA Standard. The website describes the process and includes sortable listings for certified turbines and pending applications. The website was designed to give consumers, applicants and stakeholders a more robust set of resources to aid in the development of the small wind market.
- New Wind Resource Maps and Wind Potential Estimates for the U.S.: Prepared by NREL and AWS Truewind, LLC, of Albany, New York.
- Governors' Wind Energy Coalition - a bipartisan group of the nation's governors who are dedicated to the development of the nation's wind energy resources to meet America's domestic energy demands in an environmentally responsible manner'while reducing the nation's dependence on imported energy sources and stimulating state and national economic development. See the GWC's recent wind energy recommendations to the President and Congress:
- New England Wind Forum Newsletter: Produced by Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC under contract to the Wind Powering America Program of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
- New England Wind Energy Education Project (NEWEEP): This spinoff of the New England Wind Forum, supported by DOE's Wind Powering America Program, created an eight-part webinar series on issues including noise, flicker, property values, and grid reliability/backup power requirements, in addition to conference that covered a number of additional issues; the conference was videotaped, and the video and presentations are available here.
