Clean Energy Group (CEG), is a leading national, non-profit advocacy organization working in the U.S. and internationally on innovative technology, finance, and policy programs in the areas of clean energy and climate change.

2011 was a tough year for small wind incentive programs. Over the past 12 months, California, Oregon, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota all experienced some kind of suspension or significant reduction of their incentives for wind turbines. While fluctuating incentives often have been the norm for clean energy, it’s usually because of the “on again, off again” nature of public funding. What was significant about the belt-tightening of several of these programs was that they were tied to technology concerns, not budget.  California and New Jersey suspended their programs in response to illegitimate product claims and reliability concerns, and they aren’t alone in their worries. Fortunately, the distributed wind industry has begun to respond, and the outlook for 2012 is improving.  Work by organizations such as the Interstate Turbine Advisory Council (ITAC) and the Small Wind Certification Council is helping to ensure that the experiences of California and New Jersey aren’t... Read the Full Post »