Region 1: EPA New England

Renewable Energy for Electricity Generation

Renewable energy is energy that is produced from renewable sources such as the sun, wind, ocean, plants or waste. While some types of renewable energy have fewer environmental impacts than others, it is generally acknowledged that producing energy from renewable sources has fewer adverse environmental impacts than energy from fossil fuels. Please see the links below for information on common renewable sources, siting and development issues, funding, and policies and regulations.

Sources of Renewable Energy

• Biomass
• Geothermal
• Ocean
• Solar
• Wind

Siting, Development and Funding

• Siting renewables on contaminated land
  EPA is encouraging the development of renewable energy by identifying currently and formerly contaminated lands and mining sites that present opportunities for renewable energy development. Using these cleaned-up areas to site renewable energy facilities is one potential way to help meet the growing national demand for renewable energy while lessening pressure on greenspace and providing economically viable and socially beneficial futures for sites that are currently under-used or vacant.
  • An overview of EPA's Renewable Energy Initiative on Contaminated Lands (PDF) (16 pp, 122K, about PDF)
• 25x’25
  The goal of the 25x'25 program is for the United States to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable resources like wind, solar, and biofuels by the year 2025. In New England, the governors of New Hampshire and Vermont have officially endorsed the 25x'25 vision.
• Funding
  • DSIREusa
    Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency includes Federal, State, Local and Utility Incentives (www.dsireusa.org)
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives by state
    • Connecticut (PDF) (4 pp, 3.3MB, about PDF)
    • Maine (PDF) (4 pp, 583K, about PDF)
    • Massachusetts (PDF) (4 pp, 4.4MB, about PDF)
    • New Hampshire (PDF) (4 pp, 4.2MB, about PDF)
    • Rhode Island (PDF) (4 pp, 3MB, about PDF)
    • Vermont (PDF) (4 pp, 4.2MB, about PDF)

Policies and Regulations

• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
• Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
• States with Renewable Portfolio Standards