State policies for collaborative local renewable integration

Abstract

New technologies are transforming the US energy sector. Unprecedented opportunities lie ahead for local renewable energy development. Proper system and resource integration is therefore an economic imperative. Technical and economic integration will require policy alignment and collaboration among cities, counties, energy utilities (both gas and electric), and state government. There is also a potentially invaluable role for higher education in support of local planning and integration. State policy interventions in support of collaborative local renewable integration will be a necessary supplement to existing market and regulatory structures.States can affirm fundamental property rights that empower communities and citizens to actively support local climate action and adaptation. State policy can drive the evolution of existing market and regulatory structures to account for local differences and provide increased flexibility for local jurisdictions to address their diverse local resource opportunities and usage profiles.In parallel, states can encourage cities and counties to increase their capacity to take on vital new roles. State energy regulators will need to balance public interest in the economic health of the companies against they regulate against the opportunity to secure important benefits of local clean energy resource development and integration. They will need to create new processes for harmonizing and cross-leveraging progress toward diverse local goals with progress toward over-arching state goals.The key enabling factor will be a culture of collaboration between energy service providers and local governments. Collaborative local renewable integration can be empowered by state action that creates new points of coordination, integration and assistance.Through policy interventions, states can reduce or eliminate barriers to collaborative local renewable integration while capturing opportunities to bring together local government and energy utility capacities and data, plus capacities of universities, non-profit and utility training programs.