WREF 2012: THE FUTURE RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET OF THE U.S. SOUTHWEST: A RENAISSANCE OF REGIONALISM?

摘要

This analysis examines the balance between the supply of and demand for renewable energy in five Southwestern U.S. states through 2025. A regional market depends on the benefits of importing and/or exporting renewable energy. These benefits are largely a function of the state's internal demand relative to its supply of in-state resources. The analysis begins with an assessment of renewable energy supply. We distinguish resources by those already developed, unused premium resources identified in the Western Renewable Energy Zone Initiative, and other renewable energy resources that may be locally competitive but are unlikely to be competitive in a regional market. The 2025 demand for renewable energy is then determined, with the aim of identifying residual demand (defined as the state's demand above what can be provided by in-state premium resources). Based on this analysis, we describe each state's position as a likely exporter or importer of particular renewable resources.