by Brianna Crandall — April 29, 2011—State and local policies are important to solar and wind energy development and in reducing energy use, says a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) called State of the States 2010: The Role of Policy in Clean Energy Market Transformation.
Building on an emerging body of literature identifying connections between state policy and renewable energy, the State of States 2010 report quantifies the connection between state clean energy policies, renewable energy development, and actual reductions in energy use. Renewable energy use increased three percent across the United States in 2010, the report says.
NREL notes it is the first time energy efficiency has been considered in this type of analysis, and the report shows significant connections between reduced energy use and building codes, electricity prices and, in some cases, energy efficiency resource standards. Even though state policies might apply to a wide variety of renewable energy resources, the analysis shows that most often there is a relationship between policy and solar and wind development. So, if states tailor policy to other resources, it might help increase development of renewable energy sources in addition to solar and wind.
To track the progress of the states and regions toward a clean energy economy, NREL also provided the analysis and findings for DOE’s 2009 U.S. State Clean Energy Data Book. The data book, published in October 2010, summarizes the status of state-level energy efficiency and renewable energy developments and supporting policy implementation, and can be accessed as a PDF and as an interactive data analysis tool. It identifies the states and regions leading in overall renewable energy capacity and energy efficiency policy.
