A National Renewable Energy Laboratory project aimed at
 quantifying the connection between state/local polices and clean energy has
 given a preview of a report due out in December. The early conclusions of the
 report by the Clean Energy Policy Analyses indicate that, for policy to work to
 develop, clean energy initiatives like biomass use, solar or wind power, time
 is required. &#8220;The longer the policies are in place, the better they appear to
 be connected,&#8221; according to Elizabeth Doris, senior project leader for state

 and local policy at NREL. Doris, who spoke during a webinar titled, &#8220;State of
 the States: Quantifying the Impact of State Policies in Clean Energy
 Development,&#8221; said that her project team knew that it takes time get clean
 energy industries going. &#8220;It actually ends up being one of the biggest findings
 of this study,&#8221; she said. 
 To perform the study, CEPA combined a wide range of
 policies into a database and analyzed how they were affecting actual clean
 energy development. For renewable energy, the study used installed capacity as
 a starting point, and then weighed a policy&#8217;s effect on the generated renewable

 energy given a specific installation. &#8220;Two years ago we tested every policy
 against every type of renewable energy,&#8221; Doris said. &#8220;Over time we weren&#8217;t able
 to get very good results from that because there were so many variables. We&#8217;ve
 really tried to narrow down which policies target which types of resources. This
 year, we only tested policies against resources to which they are typically
 targeted at the state level.&#8221; 
 The policies the study used for testing ranged from
 energy-efficient resource standards to renewable portfolio standards, or
 mandates. Along with the policies, the study incorporated a number of

 nonpolicy-related issues that could potentially effect the development of clean
 energy. &#8220;Policy alone does not explain growth in clean energy development,&#8221;
 Doris said, &#8220;but what we did find is that results got better when we put in
 other variables, such as population, price, or the number of years a policy has
 been in place. When we incorporate those, we get better results, so we are
 trying to find the right mix of policies and other factors.&#8221; 
 In the end, the study was able to estimate the relation
 of policy to clean energy development at between 44 and 63 percent accuracy,
 Doris said. The study also noted that it is not just an individual policy that
 is having an effect, but rather &#8220;it&#8217;s when state policy makers and decision

 makers create an environment for the development of clean energy.&#8221; Along with
 broad clean energy development created through policy, Doris pointed out that
 sometimes the scalability of a policy creates a roadblock for an initiative to
 actually work. &#8220;A lot of renewable energy polices can apply to all technologies,
 but often times are not scaled correctly to do so. So, if you are trying to
 promote geothermal (which are often large-scale central generation stations,
 she said), you probably won&#8217;t get very far with a small rebate.&#8221; 
 While the report points out that ultimately time is
 needed to help policies work to create clean energy, Doris said this study will
 also get better with more years of data to draw from. &#8220;It really opens the door

 for policy options including specific policy directions.&#8221; 
 &nbsp;

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory project aimed at quantifying the connection between state/local polices and clean energy has given a preview of a report due out in December.

NREL study: Clean energy policies for renewables need time

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Upcoming Events

2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo

Carbon Capture & Storage Summit

Sustainable Fuels Summit: Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Renewable Diesel

North American SAF Conference & Expo

NREL study: Clean energy policies for renewables need time