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
-------
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
------- |