Resources
SEA 251
SEA 251: How much new clean energy? And how clean?
Oil Addiction
We do not need to suffer another environmental disaster like the Gulf Oil Spill. Learn how together we can break our addition to oil.
PACE Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
PACE Finance Summary Fact Sheet
Renewable Energy
FAQs on the Renewable Energy Standard
Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) reports on Indiana’s renewable energy component manufacturing job potential. Short Report (18 pages) or please contact us for the long report (136 pages).
State Utility Forecasting Group’s 2009 Indiana Renewable Energy Resources Study. This report details the energy potential from varying resources in Indiana.
A look at Indiana’s high opportunities for alternative energy options:
Wind
The HEC policy brief on the impact of wind farms. This is a document-in-progress, consolidating some of the research on the environmental, health and safety implications of commercial-scale wind farms.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reports on the impact of wind power today. Wind Power Today takes a holistic approach to wind power in the U.S., including looking at manufacturing, integration to the grid, and the long-term outlook for wind power.
Biomass
How Biomass Energy Works, a fact sheet from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
A Balanced Definition of Renewable Biomass, a fact sheet from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Distributed Generation
Freeing the Grid, a report from the Network for New Energy Choices on net metering and interconnection laws in each state. Indiana’s policies are listed with a grade of “F” and “D” respectively.
HEC Net Metering Fact Sheet. This is a 2 page introduction to the concept of net metering.
Solar
US Solar Industry Year in Review 2008, a Solar Energy Industries Association report.
Energy Efficiency
HEC Report: The Value and Potential of Energy Efficiency and Policy Options for Promoting in Indiana. (Coming Soon)
Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy, a report by McKinsey Global Energy and Materials from the U.S. Green Building Council Web site. Executive summary (20 pages) or full report (165 pages).
Coal
Carbon Risk, Coal and Higher Electricity Prices, a Union of Concerned Scientists report, detailing how America’s coal dependency puts serious long-term risks on the U.S. economy.
Midwest Power: Less Coal, Less Carbon, More Choices, an Environmental Defense report, a great compendium of information on the resource potential of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and advanced, cleaner forms of coal.
Coal Gasification report: An Environmental Assessment of IGCC Power System.
U.S. Department of Energy report Major Environmental Issues Affecting Implementation and Operation of Gasification-Based Technologies Utilized for Power Generation, (a 270 page document).
Nuclear
Position Paper: Commercial Nuclear Power, a report by the National Resources Defense Council.
Alternative Fuels
Bringing Biofuels to the Pump, a Natural Resources Defense Council report, on the various policy and technical barriers to the development of cleaner forms of biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol.
The Hoosier Environmental Council’s Biofuels Policy. This is HEC’s board-adopted policy from 2007; it will be modified in light of new environmental research and technological developments.
