ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of state energy activities. For most state governments, there was little involvement in energy conservation or renewable energy promotion until the mid-1970s when federal programs began to fund state energy activities. Many states rely on the funds provided by these programs to support their entire energy administration. The State Energy Conservation Program (SECP) is the most central of the federal programs because it provided the initial responsibilities and administration money that helped institutionalize state energy offices. Most programs target low and moderate income residents. Some state programs are administered by state energy offices, some by housing departments, some by utility regulatory commissions, and others by local governments. The funding reductions have been greatest for the programs that provide the states with the most program design and implementation discretion: SECP, Energy Extension Service, and the Solar Bank.
