Community Energy Development Committee Seeks New Members
The Community Energy Development (CED) Committee focuses on statewide campaigns to reduce our dependency on conventional fuels for energy generation, including fossil fuels and nuclear. We are focusing our efforts to promote energy efficiency measures and to make clean energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind more affordable and more accessible. It also includes obtaining fairer generation credit rates from utilities and co-ops when excess electricity is sent into grid.
A current focus of the CED Committee is a campaign to get legislation passed in South Dakota that would enable Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to be used. PACE is an innovative financing and economic development tool that is already available in 33 states. It would allow a voluntary and optional special tax assessment to be levied on a property resulting in a loan that can be invested in energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects.
In the past, the Community Energy Development Committee has been involved in bringing several energy related campaigns forward including initiatives to obtain fairer net metering policies and the Solarize-SD campaign. DRA’s CED Committee remains committed to strengthening the work of local groups and bringing citizens together to share the knowledge and experience they have to craft a broader strategy that combines the knowledge, resources, policy solutions, and grassroots organizing.
Contact Frank James at (605) 697-5204 x240 or email fejames@dakotarural.org for more information or to join our committee!