The new report, "State Support for Clean Energy Deployment: Lessons Learned for Potential Future Policy," explores the experiences of these states and utilities, which offer lessons relative to allocation of future state and federal funding.

Montpelier, VT— Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) has produced a new report with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that evaluates lessons learned and best practices of policies that support clean energy deployment. These finance and policy tools are evaluated based on their implementation successes and challenges in different states that have employed a range of approaches to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy over the past decade.

The new report, "State Support for Clean Energy Deployment: Lessons Learned for Potential Future Policy," explores the experiences of these states and utilities, which offer lessons relative to allocation of future state and federal funding.

"The collective experience of states across the U.S. offers priceless insight into what works and what doesn't," says Mark Sinclair, Executive Director of CESA. "There is no silver bullet, one-size-fits-all approach; but there is clear evidence of how to optimize the use and application of each and every clean energy tool available to states."

The report assesses the spectrum of these tools, from rebates to renewable portfolio standards to Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and performance incentive programs. Lessons learned from programs about both standard and emerging finance and policy tools could be used to inform the future intelligent application of clean energy funds and policies.

The major, high-level findings of the report include:
• The selection of financial incentives and financing tools needs to be program-specific based on a program's goals.
• Federal, state, and local policymakers should consider a number of local factors and market conditions to determine the allocation and use of public funds for clean energy deployment.
• Durable and long-term funding enhances clean energy programs because time is needed for programs and clean energy markets to mature and become effective.
• Rigorous evaluation with clear and consistent metrics and performance targets is essential to shape program design, motivate performance, and monitor results.
• Innovative public-supported financing mechanisms for clean energy investments, including feed-in tariffs, loans, and PACE programs, could play a significant role in leveraging available clean energy funding and filling private financing gaps.

The report is available at http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/49340.pdf as well as at http://www.cleanenergystates.org/assets/2011-Files/Renewable-Energy-Finance/49340.pdf.

About the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
NREL is the Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for Department of Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Visit NREL online at www.nrel.gov.

About Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA)
Clean Energy States Alliance is a national nonprofit organization that works with public funds and state agencies to advance clean energy technologies, projects, and markets. CESA's member states manage programs that will invest nearly $6 billion in the next ten years to support clean energy. CESA is managed by Clean Energy Group. Visit www.cleanenergystates.org, www.cleanegroup.org.