Resources
Arkansas Links
General Links
Articles and Publications
2004 Arkansas Energy Code for New Construction
This 35-page document serves as the Supplements and Amendments to the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). It does not detail the code but, rather, provides modificiations to the 2003 IECC.
2006 Arkansas Energy Data Profile (pdf)
Provides information on energy supply and consumption patterns for Arkansas, as well as historic and future energy consumption trends. Snapshots of renewable and non-renewable resources are included.
Arkansas Public Service Commission
The APSC regulates the intrastate rates and services of the public utilities in Arkansas. These utilities provide electricity, natural gas, water, telephone and Pipeline Safety services.
Arkansas Renewable Energy Dealers
Identifes companies that install, sell, and service renewable energy systems and components.
Commercial and Industrial Energy Resource Guide
Provides tools and resources to help Industrial and commercial businesses reduce their energy bills and optimize energy use in their facilities.
Consumer's Guide to Renewable Energy in Arkansas
Provides an introduction to solar, wind, and renewable fuels, and their applications in Arkansas. Produced by the Arkansas Energy Office, October 2005.
EPA Energy Star Program
A government-backed program that helps businesses and individuals
protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
Energy Star certifies products in a variety of categories
that achieve high levels of energy efficiency, including
appliances, lighting, windows and doors, heating and cooling equipment, exit signs, office equipment, and home electronics. Products meeting Energy Star standards are identified on the website, along with other sources of information, savings calculators, and more. As well, the Energy Star New Homes program certifies homes that meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set forth by EPA. The website also identifies ways to make your home or business more energy-efficient and, thus, less costly to operate. Arkansas is an Energy Star partner. Find out more about the Business Improvement Partners.
State Energy Information: Arkansas
A DOE website that provides Arkansas-specific information on renewable energy resources, including solar, bioenergy, and wind, as well as energy efficiency. Also includes information on renewable energy incentives, energy data, and more.
Clean Energy States Alliance
A multistate coalition of clean energy funds that develops and promotes clean energy technologies and creates and expands markets for these technologies. Twelve states have established funds to promote renewable energy and clean energy technologies. The Clean Energy States Alliance provides information and technical services to these funds and works with them to build and expand clean energy markets in the United States. Website includes publications and other useful resources.
Community Energy Opportunity Finder, Version 1.0
A new, free, on-line tool from the Rocky Mountain Institute. The Finder allows users to enter basic physical and energy information about their community and calculate potential dollar savings, emissions reductions and jobs gained by increasing community energy efficiency. Those with no technical knowledge gather easy-to-find local data and, in just a few days, produce multiple scenarios for their community based on different economic assumptions.
Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
A membership-based nonprofit organization in Washington, DC, founded to bring renewable energy — solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal and waste energy, and biofuels and hydrogen systems — into the mainstream of America's economy and lifestyle.
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)
A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. Searchable by state, keyword, and topic area.
Distributed Energy Forum
From the Consumer Energy Council of America, this forum provides basic information about distributed energy, as well as a calculator that provides cost estimates for a range of distributed energy installations and locations.
Distributed Energy Program
A DOE program that works to advance decentralized energy technologies that offer a solution to many of the nation's most pressing energy issues, including blackouts. The program focuses on a range of distributed energy technologies, such as microturbines, as well as integrating thetechnologies into systems for a variety of users.
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
An excellent resource for information about renewable energy and energy efficiency. Learn more about DOE’s programs and efforts toward increasing energy efficiency in all sectors, as well as links to useful resources, and other information.
EnergyNet
A new electronic network aimed at advancing clean energy solutions, from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Provides access to reports, fact sheets, testimony, presentations, and educational materials on renewable energy issues.
Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Serves as a network for sharing ideas, resources and information with individuals, businesses, and communities to promote a resilient future through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and earth-friendly technology.
Methane to Markets Partnership
An action-oriented initiative that will reduce global methane emissions to enhance economic growth, promote energy security, improve the environment, and reduce greenhouse gases. Other benefits include improving mine safety, reducing waste, and improving local air quality. The initiative focuses on cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. It will be done internationally through collaboration between developed countries, developing countries, and countries with economies in transition — together with strong participation from the private sector.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
A national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy that conducts research in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Web site includes information on research areas, program activities, publications, and reference resources.
Renewable Energy Business Alliance
A number of renewable energy business organizations created the new Renewable Energy Business Alliance in late 2004. According to RenewableEnergyAccess.com, the Alliance will work to "support policies and programs to expand renewable energy production in the United States. As its priority, the Alliance will seek to make the production tax credit permanent, and work to be sure the credit applies to all renewable energy technologies on an equal basis to conventional power supplies." Founding members include American Wind Energy Association, Geothermal Energy Association, Solar Energy Industries Association, USA Biomass Power Producers Alliance, Integrated Waste Services Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association, and Solid Waste Association of North America.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
An international coalition of governments, businesses, and organizations committed to accelerating the development of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
Renewable Energy Policy Project
Supports the advancement of renewable energy technology through policy research, and seeks to define growth strategies for renewables that respond to competitive energy markets and environmental needs. Its website includes links to a number of REPP Issue Briefs, Research Reports, and Initiatives, many of which are downloadable.
RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Provides services and information related to renewable energy, including current news, a marketplace, classifieds, upcoming events, and more.
Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association
An organization of companies and individuals involved in solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric energy products and services. It works to promote development of renewable energy and policies that will expand markets and access to renewable energy.
Union of Concerned Scientists’ Clean Energy Program
Advocates energy policies that emphasize public health and safety, provide for efficient and cost-effective use of energy resources, including renewables, and minimize damage to the environment. Its website provides information about the program’s work and legislative updates, and offers links to a variety of its energy publications.
Windustry
Provides examples of community wind enegy projects, a wind energy curriculum, information on wind energy, and more.
2004 Guidebook of Funds and Incentives for Distributed Energy
Resources covers federal, state and utility grant programs, renewable
energy funds, tax incentives, and rebates available to energy service
companies, developers, and businesses interested in implementing
distributed energy resource projects.
Biofuels and Agriculture: A Factsheet for Farmers
This DOE publication provides an overview of biofuels and their use in agricultural applications, including production and growth opportunities and future market potential.
Clean Energy Blueprint, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, asserts that renewable energy could provide 20 percent of the U.S. energy needs by the year 2020. The report also indicates that the adoption of a federal renewable energy standard would help insulate the U.S. from energy price shocks by diversifying energy supply. Energy-efficiency policies are a major component of Clean Energy Blueprint, including new minimum efficiency standards on appliances and other equipment, tax incentives for advanced energy-saving products and matching funds for state- based energy-efficiency programs.
Clean-Energy Trends 2005
Markets for solar energy, wind energy, and fuel cells are poised to grow from $16 billion in global revenues in 2004 to more than $100 billion by 2014, according to March 2005 report from Clean Edge, Inc., an energy research and publishing firm. Clean Edge projects that over the next ten years, markets for solar photovoltaic devices will grow from $7.2 billion to $39.2 billion; wind power installations will expand from $8 billion to $48.1 billion; and fuel cells and distributed hydrogen will grow from $900 million to $15.1 billion.
Connecticut Consumers Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System
A publication that guides readers through the preocess of buying a solar energy system. While intended for Connecticut residents, much of the information is useful to readers anywhere.
Corporate Guide to Clean Power Markets, produced by the World Resources Institute, provides useful information on green power and how renewable energy certificates (RECs) can benefit U.S. businesses.
Designing a Clean Energy Future: A Resource Manual is a resource developed by the Minnesota Project to help communities identify options for developing their energy resources. The manual contains an overview of nearly every renewable and clean energy source available, an extensive listing of resources, and nearly 30 case studies of renewable/clean energy projects.
Energy Design Guidelines for High-Performance Schools, released by DOE in early 2002, covers a wide range of technologies for schools and also include numerous case studies. DOE aims to help school districts achieve energy savings as they renovate old schools or build new ones — U.S. school districts are expected to spend $79 billion on such projects over the next three years.
Energy Innovations: A Prosperous Path to a Clean Environment. This executive summary of the larger study explains the importance of rethinking the U.S. energy strategy and summarizes an analysis of a balanced national strategy that can put the U.S. on a path leading to an economically and environmentally sustainable energy future.
Energy Smart Guide to Campus Cost Savings, from DOE's Rebuild America program, is a guide to help colleges and university managers sort through the opportunities for saving energy and money on their campuses. The complete 68-page guide (pdf) is available online.
Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, discusses the "hidden" costs of using fossil-fuel energy resources, such as health problems, damage to land, environmental degradation caused by pollution, and national security costs.
Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, takes the stand that while the U.S. must switch to renewable energy to help combat global warming and other problems, renewable energy is not suited to all locations or situations. Identifies the key impacts of renewable technologies and offers responses to them.
Fact Sheet: Alternative Fuels provides an overview of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, and financial incentives.
Fact Sheet: Home Energy Efficiency provides information to help Arkansas residents reduce energy consumption and costs in their homes.
Fact Sheet: Photovoltaics provides consumers, producers, lawmakers, educators, and municipalities with current information about photovoltaics (PV) in Arkansas.
Fact Sheet: Solar Water Heating provides information on solar water heating, including information to help Arkansas residents size, select, and purchase a system.
Generating Solutions: How Clean, Renewable Energy is Boosting Local Economies and Saving Consumers Money, a report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, concludes that the U.S. has the potential to generate four times its current electricity generation from renewables, not counting its considerable solar resources. The study shows that a national standard increasing the use of renewable energy to 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply by 2020 would benefit: the economy, by creating three to five times as many jobs as a similar investment in fossil fuels; consumers, by saving $4.5 billion by 2020; and the environment, by reducing global warming emissions from power plants by 19 percent in 2020.
Greenhouse & Statehouse: The Evolving State Government Role in Climate Change, features case studies of nine states — Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin — that have taken action to mitigate climate change. According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change report, states have taken a variety of approaches to climate change, including the promotion of renewable energy, air pollution controls, energy development, and solutions in the agriculture, forestry, transportation, and waste management sectors. The report tracks trends in state climate change action and illustrates that state actions on climate change play a unique role in overall climate change governance.
Impacts of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on Natural Gas Markets, from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., finds that aggressive programs to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy could reduce the demand for natural gas enough to cause a 10 to 20 percent drop in wholesale natural gas prices. The study estimates a potential to reduce U.S. natural gas consumption by 1.1 percent within a year using energy efficiency, and to reduce U.S. natural gas consumption by 5.5 percent by 2008, using a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Municipal Guide to Purchasing Renewable Energy (pdf) is a publication from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council that helps municipalities develop effective renewable energy procurement strategies.
New Energy for America: The Apollo Jobs Report lays out a vision for a new Apollo Project, suggesting various public investment measures that can contribute to bringing about a bold and positive energy future. The report also provides a detailed analysis of the likely benefits brought about by such a forward looking effort, in economic, environmental, security, and social terms.
Permitting Small Wind Turbines: A Handbook was produced by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The handbook addresses wind energy installations, permitting, best practices, and ordinances. It is available for download at the above link (pdf).
Practical Guide to Wind Energy Development for Municipal Utilities, from the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, provides municipal utilities with basic, practical information on developing and marketing wind energy capacity. The entire report is available for download as a .pdf document.
Renewables Information 2003
This third edition of a report by the International Energy Agency discusses the progress of renewable energy markets in developed countries. The report examines renewable energy use from 1990 to 2003, and addresses a need for development of reliable statistics on this
energy form. Support for increasing renewable energy's role in the energy sector
has never been greater, and this publication seeks to increase understanding of
the current market and trends over recent years. The report contains analysis of
renewables and waste energy supply, electricity production and installed
electricity generating capacity in OECD countries.
Repowering the Midwest: The Clean Energy Development Plan for the Heartland, produced by the Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest, provides a blueprint for developing clean energy to help diversify energy sources, reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency and help improve the reliability of the power supply. The report calls for expanding investment in energy efficiency and for increasing supplies of renewable electricity, including power generated from wind, solar, and biomass resources.
Section 9006: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the Farm Bill) established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program under Title IX, Section 9006. This program currently funds grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business for assistance with purchasing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements.
On this site you will find information on the Section 9006 grant and guaranteed loan programs including details on project and applicant eligibility, application procedures, required forms and other useful information to assist you in the application process. For full information on the program, refer to program rule, 7 CFR Part 4280.
Selected Best Practices for Successful City Energy Initiatives, from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, profiles 14 local governments that successfully responded to critical issues of energy reliability and cost by implementing strategies that benefit the overall community. These success stories showcase approaches to energy systems reliability, energy efficiency, innovative technologies, restructuring, and local energy regulations.