WASHINGTON, DC — The leaders of three energy trade groups promoting distributed energy systems have formed a strategic alliance to seek the enactment of policies needed to support distributed energy and combined heat and power (CHP).

The U.S. Combined Heat and Power Association (USCHPA), the Distributed Power Coalition of America (DPCA), and the American Gas Cooling Center (AGCC) formed the alliance to advocate state and federal levels of action designed to get CHP and distributed power into more customer facilities.

One action includes legislation to streamline the interconnect process and eliminate unreasonable and artificial terms and conditions for distributed energy technologies. Other actions include recognition of the value of avoided energy losses, creation of incentives for customers to install CHP systems, and increased federal government investment in research and development for such systems.