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Ensuring the availability of affordable, reliable electricity is crucial to the economy. Unfortunately, conventional electricity generation is one of the most polluting sectors of the economy. Most electricity comes from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, and burning these fuels creates emissions that pollute the air with carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These pollutants contribute to global climate change, acid rain and smog. Mining or drilling for fossil fuels also harms the surrounding environment.
Other energy sources present different environmental and health risks. Nuclear power, for instance, requires the safe storage of radioactive waste for 10,000 to 240,000 years. Even large-scale hydropower installations, which do not contribute to fossil fuel emissions, can flood large areas and disturb natural wildlife habitat. To address these issues, North America is turning to a variety of solutions, including cleaner technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Renewable sources of energy are inexhaustible and have significantly reduced environmental impacts. For instance, solar energy uses the sun's heat and windmills use air currents to drive turbines that make electricity. Biomass electricity is generated from burning waste wood, other plant material, or landfill gas to create heat and steam, which again drives turbines. Geothermal, hydropower, hydrogen and tidal energy also offer renewable energy choices.
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 Enough sunlight falls on the Earth's surface each minute to meet the world's energy demands for an entire year.
A single 750-kilowatt wind turbine, operated for one year where winds average approximately 12 mph, can prevent a total of 2,697,175 pounds of carbon dioxide, 14,172 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 8,688 pounds of nitrogen oxides from entering the environment.
The average US or Canadian household could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by almost seven tons by switching to renewable electricity.
Electricity use accounts for 36 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions.
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Inquire with your local power company to find out if you can purchase renewable or "green" power. Making the switch to renewable energy will not disrupt your power service and it will protect the environment by preventing pollution and the depletion of natural resources. You can also reassess your home or office energy configuration and decide to install a small-scale renewable energy system, such as a small wind turbine, geothermal heat pump, or solar panels. Finally, purchase ENERGY STAR® or Environmental Choice products that conserve energy and reduce dependence on traditional energy sources. Insulate your house to insure energy efficiency. |
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List of REEC Members
Annual Meeting of the Renewable Energy Expert Committee (REEC)
21 November 2005, Washington, DC, United States
Agenda | Minutes
Renewable Energy Expert Committee (REEC) Conference Call
Wednesday, 24 August 2005, 14:00-15:30 EDT
Agenda | Minutes
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Calculating environmental benefits - Presented by World Resources Institute at the Annual Meeting of the Renewable Energy Expert Committee (REEC) in Washigton, November 21, 2005
Building the Renewable Energy Market in North America
28–29 October 2004, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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 Database – CEC's Green Electricity Program Database
Database – North American Renewable Energy Database: NARED
 Background paper – Fostering Renewable Electricity Markets in North America
Background Paper
[More information >>]
[Download document]
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Executive summary – Fostering Renewable Electricity Markets in North America
Executive Summary
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Document – Estimating Avoided Emissions Achieved Through Renewable Electricity
By Craig Hanson
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Report – Renewable Energy Financing Case Studies: Lessons to be Learned from Successful Initiatives
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Document – Reviewing Gaps in Resource Mapping for Renewable Energy in North America
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Proceedings – NA Renewable Energy Resource Mapping Meeting
Tuesday, 21 February 2006
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Proceedings – Renewable Energy Expert Committee (REEC)
Second Meeting: Monday, 20 February 2006
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
[More information >>]
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Document – Green Electricity Purchasing Success Stories
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Document – North American Renewable Energy Resources Maps and Information Sources
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Proceedings – Renewable Energy Expert Committee (REEC)
Second Meeting: Monday, 20 February 2006
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Report – Report on the Database on Laws and Policies Related to Renewable Energy
Prepared by Véronique Robichaud
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Document – Reviewing Gaps in Resource Mapping for Renewable Energy in North America
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Proceedings – Summary of the Mapping Specialists Meeting Held at Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
on February 21, 2006
[More information >>]
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Report – Report on the Database on Laws and Policies Related to Renewable Energy
By Véronique Rochichaud
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Document – Environment and Energy in North America
Annotated Bibliography
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Proceedings – Building the Renewable Energy Market in North America
Conclusions from the 28-29 October 2004 Meeting
[More information >>]
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Document – North American Public Opinion on Buying Renewable Energy with Taxpayer Money
2002
[More information >>]
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Discussion paper – Discussion Paper on North American and International Initiatives to Quantify Emission Reductions from On-Grid Renewable Electricity Facilities
An Overview of Developments Relevant to the CEC Working Group
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Report – Identifying Environmentally Preferable uses for Biomass Resources
STAGE 2 REPORT: Life-Cycle GHG Emission Reduction Benefits of Selected Feedstock-to-Product Threads
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Report – Evaluating Simplified Methods of Estimating Displaced Emissions in Electric Power Systems: What Works and What Doesn’t
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Background paper – Market-Based Mechanisms for Carbon Sequestration, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in North America-What Are the Options?
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Report – What is Renewable?
A Summary of Eligibility Criteria Across 27 Renewable Portfolio Standards
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Report – Green Procurement: Good Environmental Stories for North Americans
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Proceedings – Overcoming Obstacles to Renewable Energy Sources in Mexico: Lessons from the NAFTA Partners
7 February 2003
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Article 13 Secretariat Report – Environmental Challenges and Opportunities of the Evolving North American Electricity Market
Secretariat Report to Council Under Article 13 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Publication – Mexico and Emerging Carbon Markets
Investment Opportunities for Small and Medium-size Companies and the Global Climate Agenda
[More information >>]
[Download document] |
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Note: This listing does not constitute CEC endorsement or responsibility
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