Efficiency Bright Spot in Otherwise Deflated Clean Energy Investment Market

Here's a piece from Colorado Energy News that explains a bit about why renewables aren't growing as fast as some (including this author) would like. There are a myriad of factors but one that sticks out in particular is the, "lack of policy guidance from the feds," as well as the pricing of carbon. A comprehensive, national renewable energy standard (RES) or a price on carbon levels the playing field so that Americans can do what they do best - make money. Without the national policy or a price on carbon the investment risk on renewable energy is just too high for investors.

The one bright spot in all of this is the focus on energy efficiency by the feds and the market. Energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit - it has the quickest ROI of any of the renewable energy technologies and is the smart thing to do to your structure before you purchase any solar modules or wind turbines. Why would you want to waste any of the energy (whether it be fossil fuel or renewable) that you consume? So, get your place audited by an certified energy auditor then weatherize it, while lobbying your elected Congress person for a RES or carbon price so we can create a new energy economy today rather than tomorrow.