Overview

Energy policy is the way the government addresses energy, encompassing laws, regulations, judicial opinions, incentives and strategic objectives at the federal, regional, state local and utility levels.

The Center’s Policy Team works to advance a sustainable energy economy by conducting objective research and analysis and providing education and technical assistance on energy policy issues nationwide. Our staff tracks developments in energy policy and examines the impacts of these on clean energy technologies.  To help support businesses with their clean energy initiatives, we provide information regarding state regulations and tax policies as well as other resources.

Why It Matters

Policy has a huge impact on the market for clean energy technologies, often influencing demand, market access and compensation. Smart policies can accelerate the realization of clean energy benefits, including energy independence and resiliency, financial savings, local economic development, and improved environmental quality. However, policy is constantly changing and can be difficult to understand without spending hours pouring through legislation and regulatory dockets. Our staff provides information on energy policy across the country on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), which is publicly available. This helps homeowners and businesses, the clean energy industry, utilities, policy makers and others understand the nation’s policy landscape.

Services

The Policy Team offers customized research and analysis on energy policy issues, including comparative state policy analysis, tracking of pending legislative and regulatory actions and new market research.  Understanding the policy landscape is critical for clean energy businesses to identify market opportunities and limitations. Policymakers, while familiar with their own state’s laws and regulations, often look to other states when considering policy changes.  These services are directed toward clean energy businesses, investors, advocates, utilities, policymakers and researchers.

The Database of  State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) is the most comprehensive source of information on policies and incentives that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. This public resource, which includes summaries of more than 2,600 incentives and policies, is used by over one million different people every year. The Center’s staff is available by request to provide technical assistance to North Carolina policymakers and other stakeholders developing policies regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency and alternative fuels.  To get recognized on DSIRE and to read more about sponsorship, please click here.

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The electric power industry is in a period of rapid policy and regulatory change – changes which are often challenging and time-consuming to keep track of. The 50 States Report series is intended to keep industry stakeholders informed of policy and regulatory changes in the clean energy sector with timely, comprehensive and unbiased updates. The reports provide a complete review of quarterly actions, summarized by our team of state policy experts, along with links to primary sources, summary graphics and analysis.

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The Center offers customized policy research and analysis services to clean energy businesses, utilities, advocacy organizations and other industry participants. These services include state comparative policy analysis, research and tracking of pending legislative and regulatory actions and analysis of market opportunities based on policy landscape.

DSIRE Insight provides policy research and analysis services to energy industry professionals. DSIRE Insight is a project of the Center, expanding upon the Center’s Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency and and 50 States quarterly policy tracking reports. DSIRE Insight’s subscription services focus on distributed solar, grid modernization and energy storage, and electric vehicles, as well as customized energy policy research. The DSIRE Insight team takes advantage of decades of personal and institutional experience to offer a deeper dive into U.S. clean energy policy, with an emphasis on new policies and policy changes under consideration across the country.

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Recent News

2023 Trends Mapping Clean Energy Policy Advances in the United States

In the dynamic landscape of clean energy policy across the nation, the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) serves as a valuable hub of comprehensive research, analysis and education.…

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Sustainable Energy in North Carolina: New, Upcoming, and Noteworthy

Carolina Nature Coalition invites you to join Vincent Potter, Senior Policy Analyst, NC Clean Energy Technology Center to learn about recent changes to residential electric rules and clean energy incentives.…

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RE+ Midwest

MAKE REGIONAL CONNECTIONS RE+ Midwest is the largest forum for professionals dedicated to the integration of solar, storage, and additional renewable energy assets like wind energy and electric vehicle infrastructure…

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Resources

50 STATES OF GRID MODERNIZATION: Q4 2023 REPORT & 2023 ANNUAL REVIEW

Quarterly publication detailing legislative and regulatory actions on grid modernization across the country. Includes a comprehensive review of state and investor-owned utility actions related to advanced metering infrastructure, smart grid technologies, energy storage, microgrids, demand response, utility business model reform, and rate reform. Actions cover studies and investigations, planning and market access rules, regulatory reforms, policies, financial incentives, and utility deployment.

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50 STATES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Q4 2023 REPORT & 2023 ANNUAL REVIEW

Quarterly publication detailing legislative and regulatory actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure across the country. Includes a comprehensive review of state and investor-owned utility actions related to studies and investigations, regulation, rate design, market development, financial incentives, and utility deployment.

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50 States of Solar Decommissioning

This report provides readers with information on the types of policy models states are employing to guide solar decommissioning; provides updates on legislation that has passed or is still being considered as of the end of 2023 related to solar decommissioning; gives a brief analysis of current state by state policy – specifically those offering state-based rules and statutes; and ends with a summary of notable trends and concluding thoughts.

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Staff

Autumn Proudlove

Associate Director, Policy & Markets

afproudl@ncsu.edu

Brian Lips

Senior Project Manager, DSIRE

brian_lips@ncsu.edu

David Sarkisian

Prinicpal Policy Analyst

dpsarkis@ncsu.edu

Rebekah de la Mora

Senior Policy Analyst

rmdelamo@ncsu.edu

Justin Lindemann

Policy Analyst

jplindem@ncsu.edu

Emily Apadula

Policy Analyst

elapadul@ncsu.edu

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Enhance your skills or begin a career change with one of our training classes!  The Center offers several training opportunities for professional development and the highest level of continuing education in renewable energy technologies.  Get started today. 

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