A recent article in Biomass Magazine highlights the fact that while 29 states and Washington, DC have established renewable energy standards (RES), the southeast region of the US has lagged behind in these initiatives. While there are many speculated reasons for the lack of enthusiasm for renewable energy projects in the region, it seems a main roadblock may simply be a misunderstanding of the technology. People are concerned that the technology is not well established, and that their region does not have the biomass resources to support renewable energy projects. However, a study by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy suggests “states in the region have enough bioenergy, solar, wind (onshore and offshore), hydro-electric and geothermal resources to meet a RES of 25 percent by 2025.” Also, untapped resources such as food waste and yard waste that may be currently destined for the landfill could be utilized as biomass. Furthermore, since these states do not have an established RES, technology developers may be hesitant to pursue business in the region due to uncertainty or lack of perceived commitment, causing the states to miss out on opportunities to create local jobs and revenue streams. A study by RES-Alliance for Jobs estimates a national RES of 25 percent by 2025 would create about 274,000 more renewable energy jobs.
With the possibility of a national RES on the horizon, these states currently not participating could be forced to step up their efforts on the renewable energy front. While there are many hurdles to overcome in getting the general public on board with developing renewable energy projects, it would arguably be to their benefit in the long run. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists projects “a 25 percent (national) RES would eventually save consumers $64.3 billion by 2025 and $95.5 billion by 2030 in their electricity and natural gas bills.” It will be crucial to introduce a variety of technologies in these states, from solar to wind to biogas from anaerobic digestion, to prove their effectiveness to state populations and get them on board with these initiatives.
