Distributed generation (DG) is a broad set of electricity generating technologies that are generally located on or near customer sites or along the distribution systems. DG technologies include, but are not limited to, reciprocating engines, Stirling engines, microturbines, fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, and small-scale wind turbines. When DG utilizes waste heat, it is often called combined-heat and power (CHP).

During the past decade, DG technologies have been advanced and have attracted significant public attention in that DG can provide real benefits to the electric system: improved reliability both for customers and the grid in general, reduced environmental impacts, increased efficiency of energy use, and reduced costs of energy services. Capture of those benefits, however, depends upon appropriate policy treatment of DG by both utility and environmental regulators, dealing with grid interconnection requirements, dispatch rules, siting issues, emissions standards, and tariffs for the times when the various customer-sited stand-by (or back-up) facilities are not operating.

	Review of utilities’ DG stand-by tariffs in the United States for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the California Energy Commission
	Review of utility practices to utilize DG/CHP to delay or avoid transmission and distribution system investment for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
	Economic and environmental evaluation of different DG and energy efficient technologies for low-income customers for the Low-income Energy Affordability Network
	Participation in the Massachusetts DG Collaborative meetings
	Technical support to MASSPIRG in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s rulemaking on emission standards for distributed generation. Synapse provided emission profiles of various DG technologies and a report on the health effects of diesel-engines