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About Oregonians for Renewable Energy Policy Oregonians for Renewable Energy Policy (OREP) is a sponsored project of the Alliance for Democracy. How We Began: OREP was formed in December 2008 by a group of Oregonians wanting to take an active role in the transition from fossil fuels by producing solar energy in our neighborhoods. We had heard that renewable energy production in Germany was growing rapidly, driven by a new policy called a Feed-In Tariff (FIT). What caught our attention was that the number of solar panels on rooftops in Germany had grown exponentially since FIT policies were adopted there in 2001. Researching further, we found mounting evidence that the FIT model is by far the best method for accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and creating jobs in the renewable energy sector. So we committed ourselves to bringing good Feed-In Tariff policies to Oregon. Why We Advocate for Feed-In Tariffs: Very simply, a Feed-In Tariff (FIT) is a law that allows utility customers to produce renewable energy, feed it into the electricity grid, and sell it to their utility at a profit. FIT policies have successfully increased renewable energy production and jobs in Germany, Spain, Denmark, and France and have now been adopted in 63 countries around the world. Ontario, Canada took the lead on FIT policy in North America when its FIT program launched in December 2009. In the U.S., Gainesville, Florida, has an operational FIT program for solar energy and 18 states in the U.S., including Oregon, are now developing their own FIT policies. To watch a short video clip on how Feed-In Tariffs work in Germany:
Our Vision and Our Plan: OREP's Vision for a sustainable, decentralized energy future:
Our plan for achieving more local renewable energy production centers on helping to design and support the adoption of Feed-In Tariff policies for Oregon that produce good social, economic, and environmental outcomes at reasonable costs. Our Colleagues: OREP is pleased to be working on Feed-In Tariffs in partnership with the following organizations:
Our Invitation: OREP invites fellow Oregonians, interested individuals, and organizations to join us in this work. We currently have workgroups focused on:
Support well-designed Feed-In Tariffs in Oregon with a donation to OREP at:
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