GM, HP, Walmart, and others demand simpler buying of renewables. Major companies, seeking to use a greater level of renewable energy, have banded together to try to solve a major problem — getting utilities to make renewable energy purchases more widely available and easier to get. Walmart, for example, has set a goal of eventually using 100% of its power needs from renewables.
If we can buy renewable energy for less, we can operate for less, and we can pass on the savings,” — David Ozment, Senior Director of Energy, Walmart
Principles for Renewable Energy Purchases
The group of companies has come up with a list of principles that it believes will help make renewable energy purchases easier:
• Greater options for renewable energy purchases
• Traditional and renewable energy cost-competitive rates
• Access to fixed-price renewable energy over a longer term
• Access to new projects in order to reduce energy emissions beyond business as usual
• Better access to third-party financing, and standardized and simplified processes and contracts for financing renewable energy projects
• Expanding choice for renewable energy purchases with better opportunities for working with utilities and regulators
The key here is moving toward better and more progressive relationships with existing power generating companies and regulators, rather that taking on direct renewable power generation projects within their own companies, as most companies are not experts in power generation.
The article, posted in GreenBiz.com, names a three utilities that are noted for making some effort in this area. These include Duke Energy, Dominion Virgina Power, and NV Energy.
About the Author: Lauren Boitel
