Design Policies and Evaluate Their Impact

Tools by Step

After selecting a refined set of policies and programs, states typically take steps to design them in greater detail. Afterwards, states can conduct analyses to determine the likely impacts (or “co-benefits”) of implementing the policies and programs.

Step 1: Design Policies

Designing policies can involve surveying best-practice policies from other states, collecting input from stakeholders, and considering state-specific modifications. States also determine the organizations and entities likely involved and affected, identify an implementation mechanism (e.g., legislation, executive order, or agency rule), and specify a time frame. The policy design process typically determines the ways in which individual policies interact with and impact other policies and measures.

A range of tools and resources for designing policies consistent with best-practice approaches are accessible below.

Step 2: Conduct Impact Analyses

States frequently estimate the potential effects of a policy or program by conducting analyses of the energy, economic, environmental, and public health impacts of the measure. This Tools and Resources Compendium provides links to a wide range of models, calculators, and guidance that can be used for this purpose. The Compendium can help stakeholders understand the strengths and weaknesses of various tools, the ways they interact with each other, and their underlying assumptions.

To promote stakeholder buy-in, states have found it useful to select tools that are widely accepted by experts and are clear or “transparent” in their assumptions and structures. Select tools can be used individually or together in a step-wise fashion to evaluate either a single policy or suite of measures.
For example, states can use the Clean Air-Climate Protection Software (CACPS) to evaluate air quality impacts of an energy efficiency program, and feed the results into the Co-Benefits Risk Assessment (COBRA) tool that evaluates the health impacts of air quality improvements. Both tools are accessible from the links below.

Finding What You Need

States are using a wide range of tools and resources to design policies and evaluate their potential impacts. The following links are directed to several examples (arranged by topic):

Energy & Air Quality Policy Integration

Guidance documents for including clean energy in air quality plans – States can use EPA policy and guidance to incorporate clean energy measures into their State Implementation Plan for air quality
Power system dynamics – Understanding and modeling the dynamics of the power system in the state can determine the likely emissions impacts of clean energy policies and programs.
Linking clean energy and emissions reductions – Analyzing energy efficiency potential can help states identify cost-effective measures to save energy and reduce emissions.

Energy Efficiency

“Cool roofs” – Estimate the energy savings associated with solar reflective (or “cool”) roofing technologies.
Cogeneration, or CHP (combined heat and power) – Combined heat and power systems can help states save energy and reduce emissions.
Energy efficiency policy and best-practice resources – States can review and evaluate existing energy efficiency incentives, rules, regulations, and policies. States take policy approaches that best fit their circumstances and objectives.
Linking clean energy and emissions reductions – Analyzing energy efficiency potential can help states identify cost-effective measures to save energy and reduce emissions.

Renewable Energy

Biomass and biogas for electricity generation – States can design policies and provide incentives to promote the use of clean energy resources such as biomass and biogas. Waste management and landfill gas recovery – States can use various tools to calculate the potential economic and environmental benefits of waste management strategies and landfill gas recovery.
Linking clean energy and emissions reductions – Analyzing energy efficiency potential can help states identify cost-effective measures to save energy and reduce emissions.
Renewable energy policy and best-practice resources – States can review and evaluate existing renewable energy incentives, rules, regulations, and policies. States take policy approaches that best fit their circumstances and objectives.

Economics

Linking economic activities and greenhouse gas emissions – State-level emissions vary by the type of economic activities taking place within state borders. Clean energy policies can lower emissions without adversely affecting the economy.
Clean energy financing – Compare financing options and evaluate economics of energy efficiency and other projects.
Public Health
Public health benefits of clean energy – Educate stakeholders and achieve support for clean energy policies by translating reductions in air emissions into public health benefits.

Emissions Data

Greenhouse gases and air pollutant emissions – Calculate the impact of emission changes on ambient air pollution to help evaluate potential policies for pollution reduction.
Greenhouse gas inventories and forecast – Greenhouse gas inventories quantify current and historic emissions levels from which states can set reduction goals.

Waste Management

Benefits of advanced waste management strategies - States can quantify the greenhouse gas benefits of various waste management strategies such as reduction and recycling.
Waste management and landfill gas recovery – States can use various tools to calculate the potential economic and environmental benefits of waste management and landfill gas recovery.

Other Resources

Best practice clean energy policies – States can review best practice clean energy policies and programs to help prioritize options and identify unique approaches.
Converting energy and greenhouse gas emission units – Translating greenhouse gas emissions reductions into terms that are easier to understand can help states better communicate the benefits of proposed policies.
Heat island effect – States can review and evaluate efforts to reduce heat islands and achieve related benefits such as reducing air pollution and achieving energy savings.

A summary list of all tools and resources useful for designing policies and evaluating their impact is also provided.