Most States Can Be Energy Independent, New Report Shows

A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) suggests that at least half of the fifty states could achieve energy self-sufficiency with the help of locally-focused federal energy policy. The findings should inform the energy policy of President-elect Barack Obama.

“Renewable energy is unique because some form of it is available everywhere,” says ILSR Research Associate John Farrell, one of the report’s authors. “But federal policy unaccountably supports centralized renewable power and provides incentives for heavy investments in a nationwide transmission infrastructure to get that energy to the final customer. That’s regrettable because homegrown and locally owned renewable energy is almost always cheaper, especially when you factor in social, environmental and economic benefits.”

Energy Self-Reliant States provides a state-by-state estimate of the amount of electricity and transportation fuels that could be generated by wind energy, solar energy, and biomass.

“We believe our estimates are conservative”, says David Morris, Vice President of ILSR. “Yet even with these conservative assumptions, the dramatic conclusions should lead to a major revision in key federal and state energy policies.”

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Full report: Energy Self-Reliant States: Homegrown Renewable Power - by John Farrell and David Morris, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, November 2008