IREC publishes procurement guide

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is releasing a procurement guide for renewable energy systems aimed at local and state officials in America. Wind systems of under 50 kW are listed in over 100 pages of descriptions of renewable energy systems. The Procurement Guide for Renewable Energy Systems: A handbook for State and Local Governments, is also expected to be used by school officials and the general public, says Vicky Mastaitis, who chairs IREC. The guide, funded with an Environmental Protection Agency grant under the Climate Change Division, focuses on vendor and product information and contains simple procedures for estimating the pollution prevention benefits of the systems. It should increase public awareness of air pollution and global warming issues. Never before has such as guide been compiled, says Mastaitis, and it will be updated regularly. Solar Energy Industries Association and Sandia National Laboratories co-operated in the guide, released in January.