USCHPA seeks policies to recognize and provide incentive for clean heat and power systems that can reduce energy waste compared to the current central system power production.

Tax Incentives for Clean Heat & Power
USCHPA supports a federal 10% investment tax credit (ITC) for combined heat and power and waste energy recovery technologies. For additional information, see Legislative Initiatives.

Appropriations for EISA 2007 Waste Energy Recovery Programs 
USCHPA is seeking funding for Fiscal Year 2009 for the waste energy recovery programs authorized in Section 451 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.  Included among those provisions are an a $1 million authorization to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for creation of a Waste Energy Recovery Registry, and a $200 million authorization to the Department of Energy (DOE) for creation of a Waste Energy Incentive Grant Program.  For additional information, see Legislative Initiatives.

Appropriations for DOE Clean Heat & Power Programs
USCHPA is seeking $60 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2009 for DOE's CHP/DG programs within the Industrial Technology Program (ITP).  For additional information, see Legislative Initiatives.

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
USCHPA encourages states to adopt policies that recognize energy efficiency and clean heat and power as an integral component of a renewable portfolio standard.  Click the following link for a status report, released in April 2008, of Renewable Portfolio Standards in the United States.

Standby Rates
Standby rates are a major component of the competitive environment that the CHP and DG community faces. Implementing rates that are both fair and rational is critical to the long-term success of this innovative energy option, as well as for realization of all of the benefits that CHP can offer. If standby rates are implemented incorrectly, it can create a disincentive for the use on onsite generation like CHP.  USCHPA Summary of Hawaii Stanby Rate Decision May 2008

DG Emission Rules/Permitting
Some states have enacted DG emission regulations and others are investigating the idea of either addressing distributed generators that in the past were not subject to permitting, or to change the way regulations are written. The USCHPA and regional CHP initiatives would like any permit to reflect the added value of CHP technologies and to be designed on an output-basis.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council's mission is to accelerate the sustainable utilization of renewable energy sources and technologies in and through state and local government and community activities. This site features information by state on interconnection.