Congressional Hearing Calls for Growth of Clean Energy Markets

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming featured a discussion on the role of competition in helping to move the United States toward a clean energy economy.
 
Committee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA), cited the virtues of competition, calling it a “positive force” for advancing clean energy and suggesting it “will be the reason solar energy becomes equitable with the grid system.” Markey’s comments helped highlight the role competition plays in fostering innovation. “The kind of innovation that has been driving down the cost of electricity…is available only in America,” said Markey. “Technology always triumphs.”
 
It’s no accident that clean energy technology is thriving in competitive markets.  Two of the top three highest-volume states in installed wind capacityare in competitive markets and as of 2009, nearly 80 percent of wind resources were located in competitive markets. Further, nearly three times as much wind energy was produced in those states compared to monopoly-protected regions. In addition, seven of the top 10 states in smart grid implementation and nine of the 10 most energy-efficient states participate in competitive markets.
 
Competitive electricity markets encourage innovative solutions required to meet America's electricity needs and environmental objectives. Competitive electricity markets are reducing power demand across the country but they are also adding clean energy capacity to the grid.
 
We encourage policy makers to support America’s global economic competitiveness by promoting clean energy through market-driven innovation.

Joel Malina | September 29, 2010