Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to help expand the dialogue between the energy and consuming sectors to improve understanding of energy security, more effectively develop and use both renewable and oil & gas energy resources in an environmentally conscious manner, create sound energy policy and maintain stable energy prices for consumers.

Renewable Energy

CEA Southeast Header

Clean, renewable energy is playing an increasing role in the nation’s energy supply, accounting for roughly 10 percent of U.S. electricity generation. The Southeast Energy Alliance supports strengthening our energy security by utilizing energy resources close to home. The Southeastern states are rich in renewable resources that can help power our homes and drive our cars.

Renewable Transportation Fuels

Nationally, ethanol and biodiesel production has exploded over the last two decades – going from less than one billion gallons in 1990 to over 7.5 billion gallons today. The growth of the biofuels industry has had a tremendous impact on the rural economy – adding $47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP and supporting the creation of 238,541 jobs in all sectors of the economy in 2007.

In December 2007, Congress enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which will require the use of at least 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. In order to ensure that this level of renewable fuels can be incorporated into the fuel supply of the Southeast without raising logistical or pricing issues will require major regulatory changes as well as an expanded renewable infrastructure.

The EISA also mandates increasing levels of advanced biofuels – such as renewable diesel and cellulosic ethanol – which have not yet been commercially proven. Government programs which provide research and development grants, loan guarantees and tax incentives will be increasingly important if these technologies are going to be brought online incompliance with the EISA timelines.