• Media type: E-Book; Report
  • Title: Have state renewable portfolio standards really worked? Synthesizing past policy assessments to build an integrated econometric analysis of RPS effectiveness in the US
  • Contributor: Shrimali, Gireesh [Author]; Jenner, Steffen [Author]; Groba, Felix [Author]; Chan, Gabriel [Author]; Indvik, Joe [Author]
  • imprint: Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), 2012
  • Language: English
  • Keywords: Matching analysis ; C23 ; Renewable energy ; Q42 ; H23 ; Panel data models ; Q48 ; Renewable portfolio standards
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  • Description: Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are the most popular U.S. state-level policies for promoting deployment of renewable electricity (RES-E). While several econometric studies have estimated the effect of RPS on in-state RES-E deployment, results are contradictory. We reconcile these studies and move toward a definitive answer to the question of RPS effectiveness. We conduct an analysis using time series cross sectional regressions - including the most nuanced controls for policy design features to date - and nonparametric matching analysis. We find that higher RPS stringency does not necessarily drive more RES-E deployment. We examine several RPS design features and market characteristics (including REC unbundling, RPS in neighboring states, out-of-state renewable energy purchases) that may explain the gap between effective and ineffective policies. We also investigate other RES-E policies and technology-specific effects. Ultimately, we show that RPS effectiveness is largely explained by a combination of policy design, market context, and inter-state trading effects.
  • Access State: Open Access