Renewable Energy Policy Project

The Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to support the advancement of renewable energy technology and spur the growth of renewable energy. Emphases include technology development; domestic manufacturing of renewable technologies; policy analysis; the relationship between policy, markets, and public demand; the development of renewable energy growth strategies that are competitive and environmentally friendly; education and outreach; and promotion of renewable energy projects. Key projects have included the publication of various analytical tools and reports, including state reports outlining the potential local benefits of national renewable energy policies and online renewable energy discussion groups.

REPP was founded in 1995 with Alan Miller serving as its first executive director. It acquired the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST) in 1999. The board of directors oversees REPP’s activities through biannual meetings, while the executive director oversees day-to-day operations. The current executive director is George Sterzinger. Sterzinger’s lengthy experience in the field of energy policy and regulation include a stint as commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service. REPP’s board of directors represents a variety of participants in the field of renewable energy, including environmental organizations, environmental regulators, state and national government officials, multilateral development institutions, and companies involved in the financial sector.

The organization’s internship program provides eligible candidates with three internships that are available on a rolling basis. Interns gain valuable training and experience in the field while working to develop analytical tools, models, and reports in a variety of formats. REPP receives annual or project-specific funding from a variety of organizations. Past donors have included the Energy Foundation, the Oak Foundation, the SURDNA Foundation, the Turner Foundation, the Bancker-Willimas Foundation, and the Joyce-Mertz-Gilmore Foundation. REPP receives government funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, REPP often works with other related organizations, such as the Blue-Green Coalition.

The organization’s research areas include hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal, wind power, photovoltaic, solar thermal, renewable hydrogen, and efficiency. Concerns include the relationships among policy, markets, and public demand in the increased use of renewable energy; the link between social and economic development and environmental issues; and the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness of renewable energy sources in energy markets. REPP’s position is that renewable energy projects will involve resources that are under utilized or not utilized at all, provide local communities with economic benefits and job creation, and prove cost-effective by removing structural barriers. Another of REPP’s core issues involves the use of renewable energies to stabilize U.S. carbon emissions because carbon is a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change and global warming. REPP advocates for renewable energy projects and production tax credits for such projects.