State-Based Policies for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
After 15 years of innovation that was foundational to Stanford’s clean energy education, research, dialogue, and related policy work, the Steyer-Taylor Center closes its doors as its term endowment comes to an end. We remain grateful to Stanford alumni Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor for their vision in establishing the Center. Some of STC’s work lives on through the research of its former fellows and Stanford’s Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFI).
Led by former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman and former Secretary of State and Treasury George Shultz, The State Clean Energy Cookbook: A Dozen Recipes for State Action on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, analyzes and makes specific recommendations regarding 12 policies that states are using today to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy. The report also analyzes the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) State Energy Program, which assists all 50 states. The report observes that with growing gridlock in Washington, states throughout the country—both red and blue—are implementing innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency programs which could be adopted by their neighbors to improve their economies and reduce emissions cost-effectively. These policies could be particularly valuable for states in meeting pending regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cut carbon emissions.
The report reaches “an encouraging conclusion” noting, “Both red states and blue states are turning green – whether measured in dollar savings or environmental improvement.”
