wind

Consumers are especially interested in renewables, presenting an ideal opportunity for utilities to slide the relationship between renewables and smart grid into the conversation.

To help utilities anticipate wind energy more reliably, NCAR began designing a wind energy prediction system for Xcel Energy in 2009 that saved the utility's customers more than $6 million in 2010 alone.

Despite some high-profile scrutiny of the failures of some renewable energy companies, consumers still view solar and wind energy favorably, according to Navigant Research -- but not as favorably as they did in 2008.

Renewable energy is too often viewed as a fringe industry awaiting mainstream adoption. But a deeper, holistic analysis of the data refutes this notion. In fact, recent reports show that renewable energy is actually well on its way to being the dominant method of global energy generation, even if this trend is not reflected in public opinion. Accelerating this adoption, however, will require a greater awareness of the progress already being made, as well as a renewed commitment by government and the private sector to support continued renewable energy investment.