Subsidizing the sun: The impact of state policies on electricity generated from solar photovoltaic.

As the detrimental effects of consuming nonrenewable energy gain the attention of the United States populace, policymakers have shifted their attention to implementing policies that support the development of solar photovoltaic markets. We use the OLS estimator to determine which policy incentives are more effective at increasing the electricity generated from solar photovoltaic at the state level. Policy incentives analyzed in this paper include subsidies, tax incentives, renewable portfolio standards, solar carveouts, interconnection standards, and power purchase agreements. Additionally, we utilize interaction terms to determine if a state's policy portfolio is more effective when the portfolio contains policies targeted toward both creating and expanding the market, as opposed to only creating or expanding the market. The results suggest that renewable portfolio standards are the most effective policy incentives, and policy portfolios including both market creation and expansion policies can be more effective at developing solar photovoltaic markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]