Following in Footsteps or Marching Alone?: How Institutional Differences Influence Renewable Energy Policy

The federal government's inability to address major societal challenges has hampered America's commitment to renewable energy initiatives. Individual U.S. states have stepped into this void and adopted their own policies, leading some to believe that the states can propel the industry forward. Srinivas Parinandi's book "Following in Footsteps or Marching Alone?" explores how states have devised their own novel policies and how the political workings of legislatures and public utilities commissions have impacted state renewable energy policy design. He finds that legislatures are primarily driven by ideologically liberal legislatures and that having a predominantly state-driven renewable energy effort can lead to uneven and patchwork-based policy development outcomes. Parinandi urges readers to consider whether a state-led effort is adequate enough to handle the task of building momentum for renewable energy in one of the world's largest electricity markets.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

In recent years, the federal government's inability to address significant societal challenges has arguably hindered America's commitment to renewable energy initiatives. However, individual U.S. states have stepped into this void and adopted their policies, leading some to believe that the states can propel America's renewable energy industry forward. While we know little about how legislative and regulatory dynamics within America's states might accelerate or hinder renewable energy policy creation, a new book titled "Following in Footsteps or Marching Alone?" explores this topic in depth.

Written by Srinivas Parinandi, the book delves into how states have devised their own novel policies and how the political workings of legislatures and public utilities commissions have impacted state renewable energy policy design. Through a meticulous study of nearly three decades of state-level renewable energy policy-making, Parinandi finds that legislatures are primarily responsible for driving the creation of these policies. Ideologically liberal legislatures, in particular, tend to push the envelope when it comes to renewable energy initiatives.

The book suggests that having a predominantly state-driven renewable energy effort can lead to uneven and patchwork-based policy development outcomes. While a state-led approach may have its advantages, such as allowing for more flexibility and local control, it may also hinder the development of a comprehensive and coordinated national renewable energy strategy. Parinandi urges readers, scholars, and policy practitioners to consider whether a state-led effort is adequate enough to handle the task of building momentum for renewable energy in one of the world's largest electricity markets.

Overall, "Following in Footsteps or Marching Alone?" provides valuable insights into how states have approached renewable energy policy-making and the challenges and opportunities that come with a predominantly state-driven approach. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of renewable energy in America and the role that states can play in driving this transition.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472055821