STATE INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: CASE STUDIES ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS

摘要

Over the years, states have provided various financial incentives to promote the use of renewable energy technologies. Such incentives include grants, loans, and rebates, as well as credits or exemptions for income, sales, and property taxes. While existing databases such as the National Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE, www.dsireusa.org) have documented what incentive programs are available, the effectiveness of such programs is not well understood. Understanding the impact of financial incentives on the deployment of renewable energy technologies and the factors which influence their effectiveness is critical to a variety of stakeholders, particularly for states considering new incentives or interested in improving or discarding existing ones. The North Carolina Solar Center at NC State University, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, examined 10 state financial incentive programs in six states using a case study approach in order to clarify the key factors-both internal and external to the program-that influence their effectiveness at stimulating deployment of renewable energy technologies. This paper summarizes lessons learned about the effectiveness of state financial incentive programs and identifies program-specific issues and other key factors influencing program effectiveness.