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The concept of a green tax shift is simple: taxes on the things that are valued by society; like jobs, incomes and profits; are reduced and the lost revenue is replaced by taxes on things society does not like, such as pollution and environmental degradation. ‘Pay as you burn, not pay as you earn’ as one political formulation has put it. This shift not only reduces pollution, but is a more economically efficient way of raising necessary tax revenues. Taxes on labour at their current level, for example, distort the economy and reduce its efficiency and output. The same considerations suggest that, at times when taxes need to be increased to stabilize the public finances, green taxes should play a more than proportionate role in the increase.

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Governments around the world are taking individual and coordinated action to stimulate job creation, economic activity and access to credit. In this regard, the Canadian Government is developing a package of stimulus measures to include in Budget 2009, to be delivered on January 27th. Many Canadian business associations, think tanks and other not‐for‐profit organizations have identified their views on priority measures to be included in such a stimulus package.

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This brochure describes the basic principles of [Germany's] Renewable Energy Sources Act and seeks, above all, to place them in the context of the policy debates that have been taking place. It is demonstrated that many of the arguments often used against feed-in tariff do not hold water. Above all, the economic arguments rooted in free market theory that are brought forward in many cases fail to stand up to closer examination. Consequently, compared to subsidies, tendering models or quota arrangements, the feed-in tariff model has been proving itself the superior model for the market introduction of renewable energies on a market characterised by free competition over what is now quite a number years.

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Prosperity Without Growth? says that the current global recession should be the occasion to forge a new economic system equipped to avoid the shocks and negative impacts associated with our reliance on growth. Ahead of the G20 Summit in London, the report calls on leaders to adopt a 12-step plan to make the transition to a fair, sustainable, low-carbon economy.

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Future U.S. policy may have begun on March 1 in Gainesville, Florida – population 250,000. The local municipal utility company adopted feed-in rates based on the European model. The new policy is straightforward. 32 cents is paid for each kilowatt-hour of solar electricity exported to the grid. Could Gainesville be the tipping point for U.S. solar policy?

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GATINEAU – President Obama this week signed into law the U.S. economic recovery bill, which includes an investment of over $US 76 billion in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology. This is over six times more than was announced in Canada’s recent federal budget on a per capita basis.

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In 2009, one Canadian province (Ontario) and one US municipal utility (Gainesville, FL) have enacted a feed-in tariff. As many as 11 U.S. state legislatures are seriously considering adopting the system as a complement to their renewable electricity mandates. State and federal policy makers should strongly consider turning to a feed-in tariff as the key mechanism for encouraging renewable energy development. It’s fairness, simplicity, and stability can help the United States maximize the benefits of the renewable energy revolution.

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Midwest Agriculture is the cornerstone of America's long-term energy solutions. America can create new economic opportunities, enhance U.S. security and promote a prosperous and healthy future for our children, by taking advantage of abundant Midwestern energy opportunities such as wind, solar and biofuels. At least 25% of America’s energy could be produced from these sources by the year 2025 if we make aggressive commitments to a clean energy future.

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Post Carbon Institute's proposal for the Obama Administration's response to economic, environmental, and energy challenges.

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Best and Worst Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Standards

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How to Overcome Permitting Obstacles to Small-Scale Distributed Renewable Energy

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In this report of the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena)—the German Energy Agency—we outline the environmental, social, and economic advantages that make solar power development a prudent objective for Ontario’s Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP)

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In the next five years, expansion of concentrating solar capacity may outstrip expansion of on-grid solar photovoltaic in the United States. The expansion of concentrating solar is in some ways unsurprising. Combine a recently increased federal incentive (the 30% investment Tax Credit) with a centralized power station model and you have the foundation for large-scale development

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This report sets out how electricity is priced in Ontario. Contrast this with how most other things are priced. Apart from monopolies or fire sales most things are priced using a simple idea: replacement cost pricing.

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On February 7, Science published two studies that examined the greenhouse gas impact of land use changes caused by the growing demand for biofuels. Within hours, news of the media outlets. Reporters summed up the findings in dire terms. National Public Radio declared, "Study: Ethanol Worst for Climate Than Gasoline. "The New York Times headline read, "Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Treat."

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Feed-in tariffs have been demonstrated to be the most effective policy mechanism that a country can use to foster the rapid development of renewable energy systems. Close to two-thirds of the world's wind energy and half of the solar PV systems have been installed as a result of feed-in tariffs. This document introduces the reader to key elements of feed-in tariffs and the ways in which they function to achieve rapid renewable energy deployment.

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On October 3, 2008, the 110th Congress finally passed the renewable energy tax package by attaching it to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the $700bn “bailout bill”). Despite the turmoil on Wall Street, U.S. clean energy and climate advocates breathed a collective sigh of relief when they finally saw these vital tax credits extended after an arduous journey that involved seven votes in the House of Representatives and 10 votes in the Senate.

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In this study, we advocate applying a strategic sustainable development framework based on 'backcasting from principles of sustainability'. We analyzed global, European Union and Swedish energy objectives, as well as the results of a survey of beacon European cities to inform strategic planning guidelines for authorities moving towards sustainable local energy systems. Our research suggests that the strategic sustainable development framework provides structure to inform strategic and critical decision points for planning and implementing local energy systems.

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This article examines the relationship between energy policy and climate change policy in Canada. The article finds that Canadian climate change and energy policy have operated in parallel but contradictory directions. The resulting dichotomy helps to explain Canada's failures to achieve significant reductions in GHG emissions to accord with its international commitments. The article also highlights the importance of the emergence of sub-national climate change policies in Canada and in the United States, particularly in the context of the lack of effective action at the federal level in both countries.

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Several European countries, and more recently the Canadian province of Ontario, have adopted a simple yet powerful strategy to expand renewable energy and benefit local economies. It is called a feed-in tariff: a mandated, long-term premium price for renewable energy paid by the local electric utility to energy producers. Evidence shows that a feed-in tariff achieves greater results at a lower cost than do other strategies like tax incentives or renewable electricity standards.

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Wind power capacity in the United States has grown substantially in recent years. From 1998 through 2006, almost 9,900 megawatts (“MW”) of new wind capacity was added, accounting for 85% of the 11,575 MW cumulative total capacity as of the end of 2006. In 2006 alone, 2,454 MW of new wind capacity was installed, representing a 27% increase in cumulative capacity.

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The strong growth in electricity production from renewable energy sources would have been unthinkable without the EEG. The legislation came into force in 2000 and was amended in 2004. It is successor to the 1991 Electricity Feed Act which back in the 1990s gave important impetus for the expansion of renewable energy sources, especially wind power. This brochure provides important background information as well as an overview of the main aspects regulated in the EEG.

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This report investigates the evolving role of the distribution system operator (DSO) regarding the efficient access to and integration distribution networks of distributed generation. It recommends new broad directions for network regulation that will better align the profitability of the DSO business to their provision of socio-economically efficient network services and to a paradigm shift from passive towards active network management practices.

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British Columbia has a long history of affordable and reliable electricity generation. The province's electricity industry is Canada's third largest and delivers a competitive advantage to business while serving as a source of pride for British Columbians. However, recent developments including shortages of supply and concerns related to security and the environmental impact associated with this precious commodity require an examination of power generation in BC and its alignment with the province's current energy plan.

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The diffusion of renewable energy policies around the world has prompted dialogue and debate on the comparative merits of different policy schemes. The most prevalent policies for supporting new renewable electricity are variations of the feed-in tariff and the Renewables Portfolio Standard2 (RPS). Feed-in tariffs offer a long-term, fixed price payment to renewable energy generators, whereas the RPS seeks to create price competition between renewable energy generators to meet defined targets at least cost, and typically define a maximum cost through a price cap instrument.

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This report examines the EU directives relating to RE and the grid, general European practices with transmission grid connection and Use of System charging, and particularly focuses on comparing GB with RE development leaders Denmark, Germany and Spain. Peripheral areas and offshore projects have also been examined with a particular focus on Greece. This executive summary is a bullet list of headlines coming out of this work. Under each theme some comment is given on the reference countries, the EU and Europe1 followed by GB.

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The Electricity Feed Act (StrEG) entered into force on 1 January 1991. On 1 April 2000, it was replaced by the Renewable Energy Sources Act, which was amended on 21 July 2004. The Renewable Energy Sources Act is the most important and successful instrument to promote the expansion of renewable energies in the electricity sector.

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This study reports on the potential economic impacts arising from the construction and operation of proposed wind development projects in Southeastern Alberta. The data on estimated capital spending and operational costs used in the analysis was provided by various wind farm developers in Southeast Alberta.

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This study describes and quantifies the impact of a farmer-owned ethanol plant on the returns to the individual farmer-owner and to the local community in comparison to similar sized plant owned and operated by an absentee investor or corporate entity.

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This article examines the development of policy to promote renewable electricity in the province of Ontario (Canada) between 1995 and 2006.

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For purposes of this report, “community wind” includes locally owned wind projects that sell or offset energy on the electric grid.

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This amendment to the zoning ordinance was adopted by the City Council on February 21, 2006. It re- places a more restrictive chapter that permitted only small wind energy conversion systems in commercial or industrial zoning districts; turbines larger than 100 kW were prohibited. The new ordinance allows wind energy conversion systems in any zoning district and sets rules for the approval and placement of systems of 100 kW and greater.

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There has been significant discussion in recent years about the technical and legislative barriers that currently limit the penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) and Renewable Energy Sources (RES) within the energy markets of Europe and elsewhere (e.g. the United States). This study focuses on one of the key non-technical issues in this area, that of connection charging1

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