The American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association joined the industry-backed coalition for a year because they wanted a "seat at the table" to discuss hot energy issues, said AWEA spokesman Peter Kelley.



But the groups decided to drop out after ALEC adopted the "Electricity Freedom Act" model bill in October, which would end requirements that utilities generate a set amount of electricity from renewable sources, such as wind and solar . . . SEIA allowed its one-year membership to expire last fall, and AWEA dropped out earlier this month.

In addition, the story quotes an official with the solar trade group stating that it’s leaving ALEC in part because ALEC refused to take up a proposal aimed at easing permitting costs for so-called distributed power generation.

ALEC is a conservative, business-backed association of state lawmakers that develop "model legislation" for members to promote in their legislatures. The group develops legislation on education, energy, communications, tax policy and other topics.

E2-Wire reported in November on ALEC’s efforts to dismantle the state green power standards.



ALEC is promoting model legislation that declares: “[F]orcing business, industry, and ratepayers to use renewable energy through a government mandate will increase the cost of doing business and push companies to do business with other states or nations, thereby decreasing American competitiveness.”

This post was updated at 3:53 p.m.

