PA Consulting Group says yes - but players across the supply chain will need to adapt
New York, March 14, 2012 - To address the challenge of expiring federal incentives for renewables, players across the supply chain will need to adapt, says Barbara Sands, renewable energy expert at PA Consulting Group. Equipment manufacturers, renewable developers and utilities will each need to face this issue, and Sands points out the ways in which each is likely to adapt to remain competitive. 

Federal incentives have been the major driver in reducing the direct cost of renewable energy generation to customers. Between 2009 and 2011, the federal cash grant program provided almost $10 billion to renewable facilities (according to US Dept. of Treasury), reducing the direct cost to customers by approximately 30%. However, the popular cash grant program expired at the end of 2011, and wind grants will expire at the end of 2012, with others to follow soon after. Yet at the same time, the target...