Monday, April 26, 2010, 8:55am PDT | Modified: April 26, 2010, 9:55 AM

Are voluntary renewable energy purchases in danger of withering on the vine?

by Rob Harmon
Bonneville Enviornmental Foundation

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We’ve all heard pieces and parts of the story — supporting renewable energy is the right thing to do for the long-term future, for our kids, for the environment, and for national security. But, developing renewable energy is also the right thing to do right now — for the immediate future of Oregon. And supporting federal legislation that keeps this market humming along is also the right thing to do right now. In Oregon, and across the country, people have been supporting a lot of renewable energy lately.

It’s a little known fact that, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, nearly one million individuals, businesses and institutions across the United States voluntarily purchased renewable energy in 2008. Together, all of those voluntary purchases support 24 million megawatt hours of renewable energy from sources like wind, solar and biomass. That’s equivalent to the entire electricity needs for the state of Idaho.

Another little known fact: Those voluntary purchases supported more renewable energy than all of the legislative mandates to support renewable energy in 24 states, combined.

What does that mean for Oregon and for your business?

According to the American Wind Energy Association, the state of Oregon has 1,821 megawatts of installed wind capacity — ranking Oregon as 5^th largest in the country. The energy generated by those Oregon wind turbines keeps millions of tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere. So Oregon is improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions for all of us right now. For years to come, your kids and grandkids will benefit from the wind development going on right now in our state.

At a more immediate, dollars-and-cents level, the wind energy industry in Oregon employs thousands of people in construction, operations and management jobs. In fact, the wind industry now employs as many people in Oregon as Fred Meyer Stores. As you read this, thousands of people are earning good wages and supporting families on income from employment related to more than 20 wind farms throughout the state. This means that the business community in Oregon has thousands of customers who earn their wages working in wind energy across the state.

But a huge market for this clean energy is at risk.

Legislators and regulators at all levels are seeking to reduce carbon emissions with a variety of approaches. As policymakers examine the pros and cons of various approaches, they should work hard to ensure that the powerful voluntary market for renewable energy continues to exist, thrive and support the development of industries like our wind energy industry.

Cap-and-trade legislation without a provision for the voluntary market will needlessly undermine positive environmental impacts and job growth. Implementing a cap on carbon is good for the Oregon economy and the ecology. We ought to be able to do that without losing the right of every Oregonian to make meaningful choices about their power — choices that reduce emissions and ensure the development of new renewable energy facilities across the state.

Rob Harmon is the chief innovation officer and senior vice president at the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.