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State Best Practices
State Programs
Related Links
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States have found that a combination of clean energy policies, developed as a coordinated package, is the most effective approach to addressing clean energy. Typically, states have chosen policies to address clean energy areas like energy efficiency (EE), renewable energy (RE), and clean distributed generation (DG). This page presents a menu of 16 clean energy strategies including guidance, policy maps, and other supporting materials.
These 16 policies were originally detailed in the April 2006 publication Clean Energy-Environment Guide to Action: Policies, Best Practices, and Action Steps for States, which is available as a full report or individual chapters that correspond with each of the 16 best practices.
- Guide to Action Full Report (PDF) (410 pp, 28M)
- Guide to Action Executive Summary (PDF) (32 pp, 1.5M)
- Order a Hard Copy Online or call NCSEP at 1-800-490-9198. Request EPA Publication #430-R-06-001.
Developing a Clean Energy-Environment Action Plan
A clean energy environment action plan outlines a clear strategy to deliver clean, low-cost, and reliable energy to state residents through the use of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean distributed generation.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (14 pp, 1.4M)
State Planning and Incentive Structures
States are achieving substantial energy cost savings, emission reductions, and economic benefits by implementing planning approaches and incentive structures that advance the use of clean energy.
Lead By Example
States lead by example by establishing programs that achieve substantial energy cost savings within their own operations, buildings, and fleets and demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of clean energy to the larger market.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (27 pp, 1.7M)
- Presentations and Reports on Tracking Performance
- National Map for Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities
- National Map for Energy Efficient Appliance and Equipment Purchase Requirements for Public Facilities
- National Map for Clean Energy Goals for Public Facilities
- National Map for Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Goals for Public Fleets
State and Regional Energy Planning
Energy planning at the state or regional level is an effective means for ensuring that clean energy is considered and used as an energy resource to help states address their multiple energy and non-energy challenges.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (19 pp, 978K)
- Presentations and Reports on Clean Energy Planning
- Presentations and Reports on Energy Efficiency Potential Studies
- Presentations and Reports on State-Level Energy Data
- Presentations and Reports on State Energy Forecasting
- National Map
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy
States estimate the emission reductions from their clean energy programs, incorporate them into air quality programs, and evaluate and report the emission reduction benefits of their clean energy programs and policies.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (17 pp, 1.4M)
- Presentations and Reports on Measurement and Verification
- National Map (NOx Budget Trading Program)
- National Map (CAIR Budget Trading Program)
Funding and Incentives
States have developed a range of targeted funding and incentives strategies that are bringing clean energy to the marketplace, including loans, tax incentives, grants, buy-downs, performance contracting, set-asides for energy efficiency/renewable energy, and supplemental environmental projects (SEPs).
- Clean Energy Funds Manual (PDF) (55 pp, 1.3M)
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (29 pp, 1M)
- Presentations and Reports on State Programs for Emerging Climate Protection Technologies
- Presentations and Reports on Performance Contracting for Energy Efficiency
- Presentations and Reports on Tax Incentives
- Presentations and Reports on SEPs
- EPA’s State SEP Toolkit for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (PDF) (66 pp, 1.9M)
Energy Efficiency Actions
Saving energy through energy efficiency improvements can cost less than generating, transmitting, and distributing energy from power plants and provides multiple economic and environmental benefits.
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards require that energy providers meet a specific portion of their electricity demand through energy efficiency.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (18 pp, 742K)
- Presentations and Reports on Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
- National Map
Public Benefit Funds for Energy Efficiency
Public Benefit Funds for energy efficiency are pools of resources used by states to invest in energy efficiency programs and projects and are typically created by levying a small charge on customers’ bills.
- Clean Energy Funds Manual (PDF) (55 pp, 1.3M)
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (18 pp, 826K)
- National Map
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency
Building energy codes require new and existing buildings undergoing major renovations to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (18 pp, 791K)
- Presentations and Reports on High Performance Buildings
- National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE) Building Codes Fact Sheet (PDF) (6 pp, 212K)
- National Map for Commercial Building Codes
- National Map for Residential Building Codes
State Appliance Efficiency Standards
State appliance efficiency standards establish minimum energy efficiency levels for appliances and other energy-consuming products.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (15 pp, 773K)
- Presentations and Reports on State Appliance Efficiency Standards
- National Map
Energy Supply Actions
States can achieve a number of environmental and economic benefits by encouraging the development of clean energy supply as part of a balanced energy portfolio.
Renewable Portfolio Standards
A renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires electric utilities and other retail electric providers to supply a specified minimum percentage or absolute amount of customer load with eligible sources of renewable electricity.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (20 pp., 880K)
- EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership RPS page
- Presentations and Reports on RPS
- National Map
Public Benefits Funds for Clean Energy Supply
Public benefits funds, also known as system benefits charges and clean energy funds, are typically created by levying a small fee or surcharge on electricity rates paid by customers.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (11 pp., 538 KB)
- EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership Public Benefits Funds page
- National Map
Output-Based Environmental Regulations
Output-based environmental regulations relate emissions to the productive output of a process. The goal of output-based environmental regulations is to encourage the use of fuel conversion efficiency and renewable energy as air pollution control measures.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (11 pp., 498K)
- EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership Output-Based Regulations page
- Presentations and Reports on Output-Based Regulations
- National Map
Interconnection Standards
Standard interconnection rules establish uniform processes and technical requirements that apply to utilities within the state.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (16 pp, 1.4M)
- EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership Interconnection Standard page
- National Map for Clean Distributed Generation
- National Map for Net Metering
Fostering Green Power Markets
Voluntary green power markets promote the development of renewable energy resources and the renewable energy industry by giving customers the opportunity to purchase clean energy. States can play a key role in fostering the development of green power markets that deliver low-cost, environmentally beneficial renewable energy resources.
Utility Planning and Incentive Structures
Public utility commission (PUC) long-term planning policies and utility incentive and rate structures play an important role in determining the attractiveness of investments in energy efficiency and clean distributed generation (DG).
- National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE) Web site
- Presentations and Reports on the NAPEE Vision for 2025
Portfolio Management Strategies
Portfolio management refers to energy resource planning that incorporates a variety of energy resources, including supply-side (e.g., traditional and renewable energy sources) and demand-side (e.g., energy efficiency) options.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (23 pp, 686K)
- National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE) Guide to Resource Planning with Energy Efficiency
- Presentations and Reports on the Role of Public Utility Commissions in Promoting Clean Energy
- Presentations and Reports on Advanced Metering
Utility Incentives for Demand Side Management
Financial incentive structures for utilities can help align company profit goals with the delivery of cost-effective demand-side resources such as energy efficiency and clean DG.
- Guide to Action Chapter (PDF) (16 pp, 567K)
- National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE) paper on Aligning Utility Incentives with Energy Efficiency Investment
- Presentations and Reports on Mechanisms to Address Utility Disincentives for Energy Efficiency
- Presentations and Reports on the Role of Public Utility Commissions in Promoting Clean Energy
Removing Utility Rate Barriers to Distributed Generation
The state public utility commission, in setting appropriately designed electric and natural gas rates, can support clean distributed generation projects and avoid unnecessary barriers, while also providing appropriate cost recovery for utility services on which consumers depend.