Utilities like green energy. They also like the tax benefits that come with providing them. While such investments have proved fruitful, power companies are expressing concerns that those emerging technologies are still expensive and that the permitting process is just as onerous as other fuel sources.

Much of the growth so far in the renewable energy sector is largely because of government-sponsored tax breaks and state renewable mandates that instruct utilities to provide a certain level of green energy. The goal is to create demand, which in turn attracts suppliers to the field and ultimately leads to the development of newer and better products and services. It's not just good for the environment. It's also healthy for companies' bottom lines.