Policy and Regulatory Environment
Bill Ritter, former governor of Colorado and current director of the Center for the New Energy Economy, leads a Clean Energy Policy Landscape workshop at the 2012 Clean Energy Forum. Photo from Dennis Schroeder, NREL PIX 20590
A favorable policy and regulatory environment is a critical precursor to the development of vibrant solar electric markets, even in the presence of dramatically reduced technology costs. At the federal, state, and local levels, a complex set of interdependent policies define the extent to which renewable energy markets are able to develop and thrive.
DOE has identified the following key barriers to solar market development:
- Restrictive interconnection and net metering rules
- Regulatory uncertainty regarding photovoltaic (PV) financing mechanisms, including third-party ownership, community solar, and property-assessed financing
- Absence of renewable portfolio standards
- PV siting restrictions in local codes, ordinances, and covenants.
Current Efforts
Below are examples of awardees, funded by SunShot, that are working to overcome the most significant policy and regulatory barriers:
- Rooftop Solar Challenge
- Illinois State University (Solar Projects to Reduce Market Barriers and Non-Hardware Balance of System Costs)
- Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (Solar Projects to Reduce Market Barriers and Non-Hardware Balance of System Costs)
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (Solar Projects to Reduce Market Barriers and Non-Hardware Balance of System Costs)
- Rocky Mountain Institute (Solar Projects to Reduce Market Barriers and Non-Hardware Balance of System Costs)
These awardees are working to lower barriers to make solar more accessible for Americans.