Renewable energy comes from sources which can naturally replenish themselves within an average human lifetime. Sources include sunlight, wind, sustainably harvested biomass, geothermal heat, and more. Humboldt County residents, businesses, and government agencies are adopting renewable energy to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, improve our regional energy independence, minimize damage to the climate and environment, and improve our local economy.
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority is currently exploring possibilities for renewable energy development locally and is working to develop a strategic plan which will guide that process. The most likely sources of renewable energy in the county are biomass, solar, wind, and wave energy, to varying degrees. The most abundant of these resources is biomass, which currently meets 47% of Humboldt County’s electricity demand. Humboldt County residents have also historically championed the concept of energy independence, with a solar electric installation rate over two times the rest of the state per capita. Visit the following pages for more information on various renewable energy sources and how they are being developed here in Humboldt:
- Renewable Energy Secure Communities: communities pursuing energy independence through the use of local, renewable energy. In Humboldt County, the Renewable Energy Secure Communities Project (RESCO) is a two year project dedicated to the development of a strategic plan to move Humboldt County toward energy independence, with the eventual goal of meeting 75-100% of the County’s electricity demand with local renewable resources. This project is funded by a $200,000 grant from the California Energy Commission through their Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program.
- Solar: energy from the sun. Two basic types of solar technologies exist, solar electric, and solar thermal. Solar electric (or photovoltaic) systems harvest energy from the sun’s light to produce electricity. These systems can produce energy solely for a home or facility (off-grid system) or they can be connected to the utility grid (on-grid or grid-intertied system). Solar thermal (or solar hot water) systems use the sun to heat a fluid in a solar collector that then can be used for domestic hot water, radiant heating, or industrial processes. Explore our Solar Works Guide to learn about solar resources and the viability of solar electric and solar thermal systems in Humboldt County.
- Wave: Wave energy is an emerging technology that harnesses the kinetic energy of ocean waves to produce electricity. Wave energy has 1000 times the energy density of wind, the largest energy density of any renewable resource. Given Humboldt County’s coastal access, this makes wave energy a huge potential resource, depending on how the technology is developed. Numerous tests are being performed on both coasts of the United States to identify the most efficient technologies for harnessing this resource. Visit our Wave Energy page to learn more about wave energy in Humboldt County.
- Wind: the flow of air currents through the atmosphere. Today, wind turbines are the most common way of turning wind energy into electricity. Wind energy technology is a mature technology that has some potential in Humboldt County at selected sites.
- Biomass: plant-derived materials such as wood, residual agricultural material, and organic municipal waste. This material is converted into heat and electricity, as well as fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Biomass is currently the most abundant renewable energy source in Humboldt County.
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority also provides a resource center with books, videos, and tools that residents can browse or borrow. To find out more, visit our Resources webpage.
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