Below we offer a quick listing of recent reports and publications from CESA. More resources from CESA and other organizations can be found in the Resource Library.

2011

Fuel Cells: Briefing Papers for State Policy Makers, by Clean Energy States Alliance.This CESA report addresses the merits, policies, and value applications of stationary fuel cells. The series of briefing papers contained in the report are designed to introduce state leaders to the increasing deployment of fuel cells for stationary power applications. Stationary fuel cells are a technology that today is commercially viable, reliable, suitable to a wide variety of applications, declining in costs, and becoming affordable. We hope this report will help you to realize the potential of fuel cell market development in your state through proactive state policies, use of the technology in critical public applications, and by increasing the technology’s public visibility. August 2011.

Fuel Cells and Supermarkets, by Warren Leon, Senior Advisor, Clean Energy States Alliance, and Alexei Ponomarov. This is the final paper in a series of CESA briefing papers on fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to inform state policymakers about the benefits of fuel cells. This paper describes fuel cell applications in supermarkets across the country and why states should target this niche market for support. August 2011.

CESA Annual Work Plan 2011-2012, by Mark Sinclair, Executive Director, Clean Energy States Alliance. This work plan identifies and describes the specific activities of the organization  and describes CESA's mission, proposed project work, and objectives for the coming year. July 1, 2011.

Evaluating Renewable Energy Programs: A Guide for Program Managers, by Warren Leon, CESA Senior Advisor. This CESA report considers program evaluation from the perspective of a program manager rather than an evaluator. It suggests how to ensure that evaluation activities are useful, cost-effective, and well-received by program staff, policymakers, and stakeholders. It discusses how to select an evaluator, and it recommends how to approach and choose among different types of evaluations: needs and market assessments, process evaluations, outcome evaluations, and cost-benefit evaluations. New program managers can use the report as an introduction to evaluation while more experienced managers may want to read relevant sections as the need arises. June 15, 2011

Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage, by Charles Kubert and Warren Leon, CESA. This short, illustrated, five-page paper is designed to give policymakers and others an introduction to how hydrogen for fuel cells is currently produced and stored, and how renewable energy could be used more extensively for hydrogen production in the future. It discusses the adequacy of current supplies and the safety of hydrogen production and storage. If you would a high resolution version of this report, please contact cesa@cleanegroup.org. June 3, 2011.

A Visual Impact Assessment Process for Wind Energy Projects, by Jean Vissering, Jean Vissering Landscape Architecture, and CESA. The purpose of this CESA guide is to facilitate the adoption and use of effective state and local policies, practices, and methodologies to evaluate the visual impacts associated with wind development projects. Visual impacts are often among the issues of greatest concern for surrounding property owners and the community. Public acceptance and confidence in wind development are likely to be enhanced when visual issues are clearly and fairly addressed. The guide provides an effective and objective aesthetic impact assessment review methodology that provides clear guidance for developers, planners, and regulatory decision makers and also ensures the protection of important scenic and cultural resources. This guide was made possible with funding from the Department of Energy's Wind Powering America Program. May 2011.

State Support for Clean Energy Deployment: Lessons Learned for Potential Future Policy, by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair, CESA. This report, prepared for NREL, reviews the results of state Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE/RE) programs and the specific financial incentives and financing tools used to encourage clean energy investment. Lessons from such programs could be used to inform the future application of EE/RE incentives and financing tools. These lessons learned apply to use of distributed resources and the historical focus of these EE/RE programs. April 2011.

An Overview of Hydrogen Production and Storage Systems with Renewable Hydrogen Case Studies, by Timothy Lipman, PhD. A CESA Report that provides an overview of hydrogen production and storage systems with renewable hydrogen Case Studies. May 2011.

The Commerce Clause and Implications for State Renewable Portfolio Standard Programs, by Carolyn Elefant, Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant and Ed Holt, Ed Holt and Associates for Clean Energy States Alliance. This CESA State RPS Policy report explains the applicability and effect of the interstate commerce clause of the US Constitution on a state's approach to the design of an RPS. The report also identifies and discusses options available to states for structuring RPS programs in a constitutionally compliant manner. April 2011.

State Clean Energy Fund Support for Renewable Energy Projects: Key Findings from the 2009 CESA National Database, by Clean Energy States Alliance and Peregrine Energy Group. CESA report on renewable energy project deployment from State Renewable Energy Program activities: 2009 Annual and 1998-2009 Cumulative Results. Winter 2011.

2010 

CESA 2010 Report: State Efforts to Advance Clean Energy. CESA is pleased to release its newest report that highlights the state program offerings and the results achieved by CESA's members as they work to advance clean energy markets. The report also details key findings from the Renewable Energy Deployment Database and details CESA joint projects, reports, and activities. August 2010.

State Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) 2010 Awardees and Progam Summaries:

State Clean Energy Fund Support for Renewable Energy Projects: Key Findings from the 2008 CESA National Database, by Clean Energy States Alliance and Peregrine Energy Group. This new report from CESA demonstrates how state clean energy funds have emerged as a major driver of renewable energy projects across the U.S from 1998-2008. Within the past decade, states from Connecticut to California have funded 52,000 projects using the full range of renewable energy technologies, including wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower. The 10-year voluntary investment by states of $1.9 billion has leveraged $10.1 billion in additional project investment and added 2.5 new, clean gigawatts to the grid. June 2010.

State-Based Financing Tools to Support Distributed and Community Wind Projects, by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy States Alliance. This state wind energy program guide was created to help state clean energy fund managers and policymakers examine financial support tools for distributed wind projects. The options range from rebates and loans to bridge financing and renewable portfolio standards, and should be evaluated in light of the availability of tax and other incentives available at the federal level. The report also looks at third-party financing. May 2010.

Supporting On-Site Distributed Wind Generation Projects, by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy States Alliance. CESA has prepared this state wind energy program guide for state clean energy fund managers and policymakers that support the installation of on-site, behind-the-meter wind turbines at private businesses and municipal and other public facilities. The program guide lays out the many policy actions which states can take to encourage the development of these projects, among these are: project feasibility assessment support, grant and other incentive programs, interconnection and net metering policies and model zoning ordinances. The guide also provides case studies of the leading state clean energy funds providing support to this market. May 2010.

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Briefing Papers. Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) has developed the above report series to provide state policymakers, clean energy fund managers, and other interested persons with basic information on 1) Fuel cell technologies, economics, and applications; 2) The value of fuel cells as a reliable power source for critical facilities; 3) State policies to advance the fuel cell industry and installations; 4) Production and storage of hydrogen for fuel cell use. May 2010

State Clean Energy Program Guide: A Review of Emerging State Finance Tools to Advance Solar Generation (pdf), by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair. This report provides an overview and specific examples of three creative finance tools that any state can use to support PV in the context of an existing RPS: solar set-asides, feed-in tariffs, and reverse auction mechanisms. These tools are primarily targeted at commercial- and utility-scale projects, and use of any of them can reduce the need for states to provide direct rebates and incentives to PV projects. These tools, if smartly designed, can allow states to build sustainable solar markets with programs that are economically efficient, reward PV system performance, allow for program continuity, advance market transformation and avoid rebate dependency. The authors contend that providing special treatment to PV projects in the context of an RPS is important if states are to build and maintain public support for their RPS programs, particularly in cases where solar is the most widely accessible in-state renewable energy resource. March 2010.

2009

Distributed Renewable Energy Finance and Policy Toolkit (pdf), by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy States Alliance. December 2009. This report describes the many financing options available to state energy offices, municipal governments, and other energy agencies for utilizing public funds for clean energy project support.

Smart Solar Marketing Strategies: Clean Energy State Program Guide (pdf), by Lyn Rosoff, SmartPower and Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy Group, August 2009. This report provides marketing best practices on how to address barriers to solar market growth. According to the report, by acting more like retailers selling a product, state solar programs have the potential to sharply increase PV purchases and installations.

CESA Best Practice Briefing Papers - March 2009: Developing An Effective State Clean Energy Program

State Clean Energy Fund Support for Renewable Energy Projects: Key Findings from the CESA National Database 1998-2007, January 2009.

"State Leadership in Clean Energy" (SLICE) Awards 2009. On January 13, 2009, CESA presented awards to the five winners of the 2009 SLICE Awards at a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. See the press release, fact sheet and summary case studies of the five winning programs below:

2008 

Mainstreaming Solar Electricity: Strategies for States to Build Local Markets, prepared by Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy Group and Steve Weisman, Peregrine Energy Group. This report describes the key policies and program strategies that have emerged as effective tools for states to advance wide-spread solar deployment. The report’s recommendations are based on the input and lessons learned of the members of the Clean Energy States Alliance. April 2008.

2007 

State Strategies to Foster Solar Hot Water System Deployment, by Mark Sinclair. December 2007. A CESA State Program Guide. This report describes a number of straightforward strategies that states can implement to support adoption of solar hot water technologies, including provision of financial incentives, training for installers, and education to help customers make informed decisions.

 

 

“Tracking the Sun: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the U.S. from 1998–2007,” by Ryan Wiser, Galen Barbose, and Carla Peterman. February 2009. The research was supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Solar Energy Technologies Program) and the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (Permitting, Siting and Analysis Division), and by Clean Energy States Alliance.

State Clean Energy Fund Support for Renewable Energy Projects: Key Findings from the CESA National Database, January 2009.

State Leadership in Clean Energy" (SLICE) Awards 2009. On January 13, 2009, CESA presented awards to the five winners of the 2009 SLICE Awards at a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. See the press release, fact sheet and summary case studies of the five winning programs below:

2008 

Review of State Renewable Portfolio Standard Programs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions, prepared for the CESA Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States Collaborative on RPS Implementation by Exeter Associates, December, 2008. This report serves to review the progress to date of the states in the region in meeting their RPS objectives, to identify early successes and challenges, and to offer recommendations for future success.

CESA State RPS Policy Report: Increasing Coordination and Uniformity Among State Renewable Portfolio Standards, prepared by Edward A. Holt, Ed Holt and Associates for CESA and the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic RPS Implementation Collaborative, December 2008. This analysis seeks to examine and evaluate mechanism and approaches to increase harmonization and/or coordination among state RPS programs as well as the merits and challenges they present.

Shaking Up the Residential PV Market: Implications of Recent Changes to the ITC by Berkeley Lab and CESA. This 12-page report examines the implications of changes to the residential solar ITC. November 2008.

Clean Energy State Program Guide - Mainstreaming Solar Electricity: Strategies for States to Build Local Markets, prepared by Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy Group and Steve Weisman, Peregrine Energy Group. This report describes the key policies and program strategies that have emerged as effective tools for states to advance wide-spread solar deployment. The report’s recommendations are based on the input and lessons learned of the members of the Clean Energy States Alliance. April 2008.

Property Tax Assessments as a Finance Vehicle for Residential PV Installations: Opportunities and Potential Limitations by Mark Bolinger, Lawrence Berkeley Lab. This LBNL-CESA Case Study describes the mechanics of a new type of PV financing program recently proposed by the City of Berkeley that offers its residents the ability to utilize increased property tax assessments as a means of repaying over time the up-front cost of installing PV systems. February 2008.

2007 

State Strategies to Foster Solar Hot Water System Deployment, by Mark Sinclair. December 2007. A CESA State Program Guide. This report describes a number of straightforward strategies that states can implement to support adoption of solar hot water technologies, including provision of financial incentives, training for installers, and education to help customers make informed decisions.

Using the Federal Production Tax Credit to Build a Durable Market for Wind Power in the United States, by Ryan Wiser, Mark Bolinger, and Galen Barbose. November 2007. This article was recently published in The Electricity Journal, and was funded in part by the Clean Energy States Alliance. Among the most significant drivers of the recent growth in renewable generation in the U.S. is the federal production tax credit (PTC).The purpose of this article is to review the developments from the PTC over time, assessing its impact on the wind power market, highlighting the potentially positive implications of a longer-term extension of the PTC, and discussing some possible changes to the design of the PTC that might help overcome some of its limitations as presently structured.

CESA Memo Summarizing the National Research Council Report on Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects, Mark Sinclair, May 2007. This memo provides a briefing analysis of the May 2007 NAS National Resources Council Report on The Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Project that evaluates the trade-offs between the benefit of new wind-energy projects and the risk of adverse environmental impacts.

 The National Academies Report in Brief, May 2007

Visual Impacts Assessment Process for Evaluating Wind-Energy Projects, CESA Best Practice Recommendation, Mark Sinclair, CESA, August 2007.

CESA Memo on California Energy Commission Staff Report on Eligibility Criteria and Conditions for Incentives for Solar Energy Systems, Senate Bill 1, Mark Sinclair, August 2007.


2006

LBL and CESA release new Case Study, "Designing PV Incentive Programs to Promote Performance - A Review of Current Practice," by Galen Barbose, Ryan Wiser, and Mark Bolinger, LBNL. October 2006. This report examines the approaches used to encourage PV system performance - including, but not limited to, PBI's - used by 32 prominent PV incentive programs in the U.S.

 CESA and LBL release the updated: The Impact of State Clean Energy Fund Support for Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Projects, by Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser, LBNL. May 2006. This case study seeks to comprehensively summarize the support that state clean energy funds have provided to utility scale energy projects, detailing - among other things - the amount of funds obligated and the number, capacity, and resource type of projects supported. The database that supports this case study can be found at http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/cases/EMP_case.html.

Exploring the Economic Value of EPAct 2005's PV Tax Credits, prepared for CESA by Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser, LBNL, and Edwin Ing, Law Offices of Edwin T.C. Ing, March 2006. Updated February 2007.

Clean Energy State Program Guide: Strategies to Foster Solar Energy & Advanced Efficiency in Affordable Multi-Family Housing, Prepared by Clean Energy Group and Peregrine Energy Group, Inc. February 2006.

Supporting Photovoltaics in Market-Rate Residential New Construction, by Galen Barbose, Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger, LBNL. February 2006. CESA and LBL release a new case study summarizing programmatic experience and lessons learned from the state clean energy funds.

2005

Financing Affordable Housing: A Primer for the State Clean Energy Funds. Prepared for CESA by Roger Clark, TRF Sustainable Development Fund. October 2005. The goal of this primer is to provide the staff and managers of the state clean energy funds with information about the various public and private programs and strategies being used to finance affordable housing projects.

Northeast RPS Compliance Markets: An Examination of Opportunities to Advance REC Trading. Prepared for CESA by CEEEP - Rutgers, NJ Clean Energy Program, and Clean Energy Group. October 2005.

CESA Scoping Document: Encouraging Photovoltaic System Installations in "Green" Affordable Multifamily Housing, April 2005. Prepared for CESA by Peregrine Energy Group.

CESA Scoping Document: Encouraging Photovoltaic System Installations in New Single-Family Market-Rate Housing, April 2005. Prepared for CESA by Peregrine Energy Group.

Comparative Information on State and Utility Rebate Programs:Berkeley Lab recently developed a simple database of state and utility cash incentives for solar PV. The principal purpose of this effort was to put incentive levels on a comparable basis among programs (taking into consideration the fact that programs base their incentive payments on different definitions of installed wattage, and that some programs provide payment based on production). February 2005.

2004

 CESA and LBL release: A Survey of State Clean Energy Fund Support for R&D Projects, October 2004. This paper surveys state clean energy fund support for earlier-stage technology R&D, principally focusing on renewable energy but also touching on fuel cells. The purpose of this case is simply to briefly describe - not to analyze or critique - the various efforts of state funds.

CESA and LBL release "A Survey of State Clean Energy Fund Support for Biomass", by Garrett Fitzgerald, Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser, of LBL. This survey reviews efforts by CESA member clean energy funds to promote the use of biomass as a renewable energy source. August 2004.

Northern Exposure: An Overview of Canadian Clean Energy Fund Activities, by Garrett Fitzgerald, Ryan Wiser, Mark Bolinger, of LBL and Allison Schumacher, Clean Energy Group. LBL and CESA release a new report in their Case Studies of State Support for Renewable Energy series. June 2004.

This case study profiles the activities of the following clean energy funds: the Green Municipals Funds (GMEF and GMIF), the Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF), the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF), and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). It also explores other federal and provincial incentives that have a significant impact on Canada’s renewable energy market. While there are numerous energy efficiency programs and funding mechanisms in Canada, the scope of this case is limited to funding for clean energy production technologies in Canada.

Low-Income Renewable Energy Programs: A Survey of State Clean Energy Funds, by Garrett Fitzgerald, Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser. LBL. May 2004

This survey reviews efforts by CESA member clean energy funds to promote the use of renewable energy technologies in low-income residential buildings or communities. Only programs specifically targeting low-income applications are covered. Funds providing support to low-income households for other purposes (e.g., weatherization programs) fall outside the scope of this survey, as do programs offered by non CESA member funds.

A Survey of State Support for Community Wind Power Development, by Mark Bolinger. LBL and CESA release a new report in their Case Studies of State Support for Renewable Energy series. March 2004.

Though historically confined Europe, "community wind" projects, i.e., locally owned, utility-scale wind projects interconnected on either side of the meter, are a topic of increasing interest in the US, not just among farmers and other potential local investors, but also among state policymakers interested in renewable energy. Several states are currently supporting community wind in a variety of ways, leading to the development of different types of projects. With policy support from an increasing number of states, community wind in the US may be approaching a "tipping point".

2003

The Experience of State Clean Energy Funds with Tradeable Renewable Certificates. LBL and CESA release a new report in their Case Studies of State Support for Renewable Energy series. November, 2003.

Tradeable renewable certificates (TRCs), also commonly referred to as green tags or renewable energy credits (RECs), represent the non-energy attributes for electricity produced from renewable sources. Several state clean energy funds are exploring their respective roles regarding TRCs. This case study summarizes these activities. The states that are covered include California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.


CESA Small Wind Project Overview Report, By David Cooperman, CESA Intern and edited by Roger Clark, CESA Project Director for Wind Projects. October 2003.

CESA surveyed existing small wind programs and related initiatives to evaluate how they address a dozen issues. In 2004, CESA will host a meeting of state fund managers to discuss the report finding, lessons learned from the various state fund programs, and will assemble the best practices of these program in a report to CESA member.

Green Buildings: The Expanding Role of State Clean Energy Funds, (September 2003), a new report for the Case Studies of State Support for Renewable Energy" series from Berkeley Lab and the Clean Energy Group.

"Green" buildings are typically designed to minimize environmental impacts in multiple areas (e.g., energy, water, materials), and to maximize the health and quality of life of building occupants. For a variety of reasons, green buildings can provide a niche market for renewable energy technologies. This case study examines the efforts of several state renewable energy funds to specifically promote renewable energy use in green buildings. These efforts fall into two categories: targeted funding for renewable energy systems used specifically on green (or at least energy-efficient) buildings, and general green building promotion. The states that are covered include Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.