Developing Clean Energy Best Practices Guides for State and Local Governments

We used this information to develop several guidance documents, including:

• Clean Energy-Environment Guide to Action – Policies, Best Practices, and Action Steps for States: The “Guide to Action” describes a portfolio of state clean energy policies. These policies include building codes for energy efficiency, renewable energy portfolio standards, and fostering green power markets. The guide provides information on best practices, attributes of effective state programs, and implementation recommendations;
• Local Climate and Energy Strategy Series:* These guidance documents present a range of strategies that local governments can adopt to promote clean energy. Topics include energy efficiency in government operations, schools, and affordable housing; energy-efficient product procurement; combined heat and power; green power procurement; and on-site renewable energy generation. Each guide provides information on the costs and benefits of different strategies, key stakeholders to involve, implementation considerations, financing opportunities, and case studies;
• Clean Energy Lead by Example Guide – Strategies, Resources and Action Steps for State Programs:* This guide describes best practices for using clean energy in state government activities, such as improving energy efficiency in state government buildings. The guide includes information on the benefits and costs of different clean energy strategies, as well as planning considerations, potential barriers, and implementation steps. It also presents a process for developing a state clean energy lead by example program; and
• Assessing the Multiple Benefits of Clean Energy – A Resource for States:* This resource provides information that state policy makers can use to identify and quantify the environmental, energy, and economic benefits of clean energy. The guide includes an analytical framework for planning and assessing clean energy investments, and several case studies.

*NOTE: Abt conducted the research and writing for these documents, but the final production was completed after Abt’s support to EPA concluded.

Read more about Abt’s assistance to EPA on clean energy:

• EPA State and Local Climate and Energy Program
• Assessing the Multiple Benefits of Clean Energy: A Resource for States
• Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
• State Lead by Example Guide