Enabling Mechanisms

What kinds of public policies might be used to move the economy from fossil fuels to renewables? Here is a classification of some existing and proposed policies.

• Quota systems
  • Renewable portfilio standards (RPS)
• Renewable energy production incentives
  • Net metering
    • Balanced metering
  • Feed-in tariffs
  • Renewable energy certificates
  • Renewable energy tax credits
• Non-renewable energy production disincentives
  • Pollution taxes
    • Carbon taxes
  • Pollution credit trading
• Renewable plant investment incentives
  • Capital subsidies and grants
  • Invenstment tax credits