A renewable energy council is a group dedicated to researching and incorporating renewable energy into a community. Renewable energy councils are typically non-governmental organizations that perform a variety of functions related to new technology research, development, and implementation. A renewable energy council’s focus can be extremely narrow or extremely broad, with various organizations becoming involved in local, regional, national, or even global efforts to improve and expand the use of renewable energy sources.
Most renewable energy councils have a similar goal: to improve the renewable energy market so that it becomes a viable option in a given area. A renewable energy council can achieve this goal through a variety of methods. Many local governments hire environmental scientists and researchers to gather accurate data on current energy usage and to track any potential damage or pollution caused by non-renewable energy sources. Councils can raise public awareness about the need for new options by releasing statistics about environmental damage and other potential problems with current power trends.
Some municipalities concentrate their efforts on informing the public about renewable energy options and the environmental consequences of non-renewable energy sources. Raising consumer awareness of energy-related pollution is a key factor in persuading them to choose renewable energy. A renewable energy council can help create a better market for new forms of alternative energy by educating the public about the potential benefits of renewable energy, such as environmental stability, potentially lower energy costs, and the possibility of new jobs in the renewable energy industries.
Many renewable energy councils are classified as charitable or non-profit organizations. Although membership varies by organization, it is typically comprised of businesses or corporations focused on developing renewable energy products or technology. Individual membership is also available in some organizations. Many of them accept donations from the public for specific causes or operations. Because members of renewable energy councils are frequently involved in the energy industry, critics often regard the information and statistics released by the groups as subjective.
A renewable energy council can range in size from a single school district to a multi-national initiative. The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), which acts as an umbrella group for nine other major European alternative energy groups, is one of the largest councils in existence. The American Council on Renewable Energy, a Washington, DC-based organization with over 600 affiliated businesses, is one of the largest alternative energy organizations in the United States. The American Council is known for its frequent meetings with the US State Department and is considered by some to be the most powerful renewable energy council in the country.