| Pressured by renewable portfolio standards and various constituents, many utilities have sought to include various elements of “green” energy in their power portfolios or promoted conservation efforts within their service territories. Utilities have also invested in Demand Response programs as zero-environmental impact alternatives to building new transmission corridors or additional peaking plants. All of these efforts have collectively spurred the creation of a new energy “sector,” the Clean Energy Sector.
As shown below, Clean Energy encompasses alternative energy, “smart” grid infrastructure, and conservation and efficiency. Comverge participates in all three of these areas, providing various products and business models to fit each category.
Important strides in technology development and consumer education have helped to bring this sector to the forefront by making technology more viable and, where consumers are involved, easier to use. The Department of Energy’s “EnergyStar” program, for example, has made it easy for consumers to make smarter choices when purchasing appliances and electronics. Advancements in solar cell technologies have also made it less expensive to install and more economically viable for utilities seeking alternative generation.
The Clean Energy sector is growing as new wind and solar plants are brought online, higher efficiency appliances are installed, advanced grid management systems are developed, and Demand Response is more broadly utilized. The benefits of utilizing these resources will be realized by consumers who are saving on their monthly bill and by the environment as the production of greenhouse gases is reduced.
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