State Renewables Standards Work

States boost renewable energy and development when utilities adopt renewable standards

July 23, 2018 (TechXplore via Indiana University)

“States that require utilities to increase renewable energy see expansion of renewable energy facilities and generation—including wind and other renewable sources, but especially solar...[The “standards”] require utilities to increase the percentage of energy they sell from renewable sources by a specified amount and date… Most states have adopted such standards, except those in the Southeast and parts of the Great Plains and Interior West, where fossil fuel prices are low…[Iowa, Nevada,] and Massachusetts were the first to adopt a renewable portfolio standard in the 1990s, and Hawaii's is considered the most stringent, a pivotal measuring stick…[Also called “renewable mandates,” they] drive renewable energy development across the U.S…

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The design of the policy, however, is of fundamental importance [according to "Empirical evaluation of the stringency and design of renewable portfolio standards," the stronger the mandate, the more renewables a state develops…Other important design features include frequent planning processes and regulations that are mandatory rather than voluntary…States that allow utilities to count non-renewable energy, such as "clean coal" or other fossil fuels, to satisfy renewable mandates will develop significantly less renewables, particularly less solar energy…” click here for more

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