The Limits of a National Renewable Portfolio Standard

Abstract

In this Commentary Article, Professor Rossi highlights some of the distributional and operational problems presented by a national renewable portfolio standard ("RPS") in electric power. He also offers several solutions to these problems as a way of advancing a cautionary defense of a national RPS. Ultimately, Professor Rossi concludes that addressing climate change will need to involve more systemic and larger scale modifications to regulation of the electric power industry, including addressing infrastructure issues such as transmission and carbon pricing.