Policy Topics

Energy and Environment

Content type
Showing 181 - 210 of 612 results
Working Papers

Solar Siting Authority Across the United States

February 18, 2021
|
Elena Essa, Kristina Curtiss, Claire Dodinval
This report aims to understand the policy and regulatory landscape surrounding solar siting in the United States in the past, present and looking towards the future. The scope of this analysis includes siting for photovoltaic (PV) solar projects at...
Working Papers

Utility Scale Renewable Energy Policy Landscape in New Mexico

December 31, 2020
|
Amanda Farthing*, Matilda Kreider*, Bhavesh Rathod*, University of Michigan
In wind and solar resource potential, New Mexico is among the most endowed of the 50 states. While the state’s electricity sector has historically been dominated by coal, the passage of New Mexico’s first Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2000,...
Working Papers

Electric Transmission Policy in the United States

December 31, 2020
|
Eli Goldfarb*, Iqra Nasir*, Amanda Spinner*
This research paper outlines the prevailing narratives, discussion, and news coverage at the state and local level around investment in transmission, provides a review of the regional and federal policy and history of transmission systems, and...
MPPS

Energy Issues and Policies in Michigan Local Governments

October 7, 2020
This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding a variety of energy issues and policies in their jurisdictions, including the relevance of particular energy policies for their communities, whether the jurisdiction...
Working Papers

Renewable Energy Policy in New York

August 18, 2020
|
Samantha VanDyke*, University of Michigan
New York (NY) is located in the northeastern part of the United States (U.S.) and is home to the largest U.S. city. It is the 4th most populous state and also has the 3rd biggest economy in the U.S. New Yorkers consume less total energy per capita...
Working Papers

Renewable Energy Policy in Texas

May 8, 2020
|
Christopher Bowman*, Guy Packard*, Zach Pritchard*, University of Michigan
Despite voting Republican in every presidential election since Reagan, Texas was one of the first states to adopt a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and is now ranked third nationally in production of renewable energy, beaten only by California...
Student Working Papers

Comparing Public Opinion and Legislation on Fracking in Pennsylvania

May 1, 2020
|
Anya Satyawadi
In recent years, natural gas production has increased greatly in the United States. This is, in large part, because of an attempt to decrease dependence on foreign energy sources. With increased use of natural gas comes the use of hydraulic...
Student Working Papers

Zoning Codes and the Adoption of LEED in Michigan Cities

May 1, 2020
|
Michael Ngan
Because of an absence of federal policies in the US mandating green building certification, this paper aims to explore if local policy efforts can, as an alternative, effectively drive sustainable design and increase the number of green buildings....
Student Working Papers

State Wildlife Action Plans Adaptation to Climate Change

May 1, 2020
|
Adam Carpenter
Early conservation efforts were focused on setting aside lands to remain undeveloped and for plant and animal species to have a protected zone. Shifting environmental problems such as climate change have created a need for conservation efforts to...
Student Working Papers

Understanding the Goals of Urban Agriculture Policy in State Legislation

May 1, 2020
|
Meghan Monaghan
Literature suggests that incorporating urban agricultural practices into urban planning and policy making could be an effective method of improving economic and environmental sustainability, as well as increasing urban food security if adopted on a...
Working Papers

Renewable Energy Policy in Minnesota

January 1, 2020
|
Sharon Hu*, Sacha-Rose Phillips*, Samantha VanDyke*, University of Michigan
Minnesota is forward-thinking when it comes to renewable energy policy. The state boasts a decently aggressive renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and has democratic leadership that is leading Minnesota to a clean energy future. Robust policies are...
Working Papers

California: Landscape of Renewable Energy Policy

January 1, 2020
|
Molly Blondell*, Akshat Kasliwal*, Doug Noe*, Owen Watson*, University of Michigan
Californians have a strong history of environmentalism and progressive energy policies, dating back to the days of the gold rush. Some have posited that Californians care so much about the environment because they have had so much to lose from its...
Working Papers

Renewable Energy in Iowa

January 1, 2020
|
Austin Glass*, Karl Hoesch*, Nocona Sanders*, University of Michigan
Iowa is located in both the geographic center of the United States and at center stage for the nation’s energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables. For the last three decades, Iowa has been a national leader in wind energy despite relatively...
Working Papers

Oregon: Landscape of Renewable Energy Policy

January 1, 2020
|
Emily Blackmer*, Katherine Cunningham*, Zoe Fullem*, University of Michigan
With valuable wind and solar energy resources, a history of ranking in the top states for hydroelectric power, and a governor focused on climate change action, Oregon is poised to continue to be a leader in renewable deployment. The current state of...
Working Papers

Renewable Energy in the Cowboy State

January 1, 2020
|
Kseniya Husak*, Jackie Wrage*, Malika Begum*, University of Michigan
The cowboy state of Wyoming more than lives up to its reputation as a rugged, big, beautiful place. Between Yosemite in the West and vast prairies in the East, stupendous mineral deposits and an undeniable presence of grit as well as independence,...

State and Local Energy Justice Programs

September 1, 2019
|
Sanya Carley, Caroline Engle, David Konisky, Savannah Sullivan
This policy brief introduces an inventory of 185 energy justice programs, policies, or organizations at the national, state, and local level in the United States. We identified these programs through an extensive search of social media,...

Taxing Flaring and the Politics of State Methane Policy

September 1, 2019
|
Barry Rabe, Claire Kaliban, Isabel Engelhart
This brief explores whether states with regulatory authority over oil and gas production include methane within their own established severance tax regimes. It acknowledges minimal published scholarship on this issue, aside from general discussion...

The Taxation of Wind Energy

September 1, 2019
|
Stephanie Leiser
The generation of energy from wind turbines is becoming increasingly common as utilities and consumers seek to integrate alternative energy sources into power grids. However, the complex economic aspects of wind energy, such as up-front capital...