The Economic Impacts of Implementing a Distributed Generation Plan in the Town of Normal, Illinois

摘要

Due to increasing price volatility in fossil-fuel-produced energy, the demand for clean, renewable, and abundant energy is more prevalent than in past years. Solar photovoltaic (PV) have been well documented for its ability to produce energy while at the same time offering support to mitigate the negative externalities associated with fossil fuel combustion. Prices for PV systems have decreased over the past few years, however residential and commercial owners may still opt out of purchasing a system due to the overall price required for a PV system. Therefore, determining optimal better financing options for residential and small-scale purchasers is a necessity. We report on payment methods currently used for distributed/community (DG) solar projects throughout the country and suggest appropriate options for purchasers in Normal, Illinois given their economic status. We also examine the jobs and total economic impact of a DG PV system implementation in the case study area.