Clean EnergyEnvironment
                                                          STATE PARTNERSHIP
The  Clean  Energy-Environment
Guide to  Action
Report  Overview

                 February 2006
 Jft cross the nation, states are developing
    I policies and programs to help bring
m  mcost-effective, clean energy technologies and
practices to their businesses and residents. These
efforts improve end-use energy efficiency, increase
production of renewable energy and improve the
efficiency of electricity generation. State efforts to
advance these technologies are saving energy,
improving air quality, reducing emissions of
greenhouse gases, and improving the reliability and
security of the electric grid. States are also
investing in clean energy as a way to promote
economic development and create new jobs.

The Guide to Action identifies and describes
sixteen clean energy policies and strategies that
are delivering economic and environmental
results for states. Clean energy includes demand-
and supply-side resources that deliver clean,
reliable, low-cost ways to meet energy demand
and reduce peak electricity system loads. For each
policy, the Guide to Action describes:

• Objectives and benefits  of the policy.
• Examples of states that have implemented
  the policy.
• Responsibilities of key players at the state level,
  including typical roles of the main stakeholders.
• Opportunities to coordinate implementation
  with other federal and state policies,
  partnerships, and technical assistance resources.
• Best practices for policy design, implementation,
  and evaluation, including state examples.
• Action steps for states to take when adopting
  or modifying their clean energy policies, based
  on existing state experiences.
• Resources for additional information on
  individual state policies, legislative and
  regulatory language, and analytical tools and
  methods.
State Clean Energy Policies
Covered in the Clean Energy-
Environment Guide to Action

State Planning and Incentive Structures
  • Lead by Example
  •State and Regional Energy Planning
  • Determining the Air Quality Benefits of
    Clean Energy
  • Funding and Incentives

Energy Efficiency Actions
  • Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
  • Public Benefits  Funds for Energy Efficiency
  • Building Codes  for Energy Efficiency
  • State Appliance Efficiency Standards

Energy Supply Actions (Renewable Energy
and Combined Heat and Power)
  • Renewable Portfolio Standards
  • Public Benefits  Funds for State Clean
    Energy Supply  Programs
  •Output-Based Environmental Regulations
    to Support Clean Energy Supply
  • Interconnection Standards
  • Fostering  Green Power Markets

Utility Planning and Incentive Structures
  • Portfolio Management Strategies
  • Utility Incentives for Demand-Side
    Resources
  • Emerging Approaches: Removing
    Unintended Utility Rate Barriers to
    Distributed Generation

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Who Will Use the Guide  to Action?
The Guide to Action is intended for use by state
energy, economic and environmental
policymakers. It demonstrates a range of clean
energy policy options, best practices, and lessons
learned that can inform decision-making and
policy design.
States participating in the Clean Energy-
Environment State Partnership Program will use
the Guide to Action to:

• Develop their own Clean Energy-Environment
  Action  Plan that is  appropriate to their state.
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of key
  decisionmakers, such as environmental
  regulators, state legislatures, public utility
  commissioners,  and state energy offices.
• Access and apply technical assistance
  resources, models, and tools available for
  state-specific analyses and program
  implementation.
• Learn from  each other as they develop their
  own clean energy programs and policies.
   EPA's Clean Energy-Environment
   State Partnership Program
   The Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership Program is a voluntary program designed to
   help states review and adopt available policies and programs that effectively integrate clean
   energy into a  low-cost, clean, reliable energy system for the state.  Clean energy includes energy
   efficiency, clean distributed generation, and renewable energy.

   Partner States (as of February 2006) include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia,
   Minnesota,  New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas

   Each State Partner will develop a Clean Energy-Environment State Action Plan for using existing
   and new energy policies and programs to increase the use of clean energy.

   The EPA Clean Energy-Environment Guide to Action is intended to assist state  partners and
   other interested states in designing and implementing a clean energy action plan that will:

   • Save money by lowering energy demand and supply costs.
   • Lower emissions of greenhouse gases and improve air quality.
   • Reduce fuel price volatility in energy markets
   • Enhance the reliability of the electric system
     Avoid the need for new power plants and related fuel and supply infrastructure
     Create economic development opportunities and new jobs.
How Do I  Get More Information?
The Guide to Action is available online at EPA's Clean Energy Web site:
www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/stateandlocal/guidetoaction.htm

For more information about the Guide to Action, please contact the EPA Clean Energy-Environment
State Partnership:
Julie Rosenberg, Branch Chief
Phone: 202-343-9154
E-mail:  rosenberg.julie@epa.gov

Steve Dunn, Policy Analyst
Phone: 202-343-9341
E-mail: dunn.stevev@epa.gov
Mailing address:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
6202J
Washington, DC 20460
                                                                            EPA430-F-06-006

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