Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Keywords
Distributed generation, Decarbonizing, Photovoltaic solar energy, Thermal energy
Organizational Units
Sturm College of Law
Abstract
For individuals, the heating and cooling of buildings is the second largest source of U.S. CO2 emissions after transportation. This chapter suggests pathways to help deploy the two most promising categories of U.S. distributed renewable energy resources to reduce these emissions—photovoltaic solar matched with storage and thermal sources for hot water and for heating and cooling buildings. Distributed generation is probably the energy source most impacted by different levels of government and nongovernmental actors. However, distributed generation is also most immediate to consumers, especially with new technologies or rate structures that give them feedback about their own individual generation and consumption patterns. This, along with exciting new leaps in distributed generation technologies, suggests there are opportunities for distributed generation to play an increasing role in significantly decarbonizing U.S. energy.
Recommended Citation
K.K. Duvivier, Distributed Renewable Energy, in LEGAL PATHWAYS TO DEEP DECARBONIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES 489 (Michael B. Gerrard and John Dernbach, eds., 2019).
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Included in
Energy and Utilities Law Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons