Clean Energy Funds: An Overview of State Support for Renewable Energy

As competition in the supply and delivery of electricity has been introduced in the United States, states have sought to ensure the continuation of public benefits programs traditionally administered or funded by electric utilities. Many states have built into their restructuring plans methods of supporting renewable energy sources. One of the most popular policy mechanisms for ensuring such continued support has been the system-benefits charge (SBC). This paper discusses the status and performance of state renewable energy funds supported by system benefits charges.