Reimagining net metering
A polycentric model for equitable solar adoption in the United States
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13066035 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alexander F Gazmararian (0000-0003-4179-3396, Princeton University), Dustin Tingley (0000-0002-2216-6293, Harvard University Press, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 108 |
| Pages | 103374-103374 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-21 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Energy Research & Social Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2214-6296 • E-ISSN: 2214-6326 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.erss.2023.103374 |
| OpenAlex | W4390082253 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 49 |
Disparities in renewable energy deployment disproportionately afflict marginalized communities and slow the clean energy transition necessary to combat climate change. Most solutions focus on top-down government initiatives to subsidize renewable energy. However, this approach has had mixed efficacy, raises questions about the durability of support, and lacks political feasibility in certain contexts. We propose a new energy development model that leverages the logic of polycentric governance, which refers to having multiple centers of decision-making as opposed to one. Our model rethinks the practice of net metering, where households and organizations can sell excess power back to the grid. Rather than pocketing the proceeds, our model taps into individual altruism by allowing households and organizations to donate some of this money to build renewable energy for underserved communities. This could accelerate clean energy development by providing resources and fostering collaboration between communities and power companies. Our framework represents a novel decentralized approach to a “just energy transition” that complements government-led initiatives. This paper describes the program, discusses design issues, and presents proof-of-concept survey research from the United States
Business · Corporate governance · Distributed generation · Economics · Energy transition · Environmental economics · Government (linguistics · Net metering · Political science · Politics · Renewable energy · Software deployment · Subsidy · Energy and Environment Impacts · Engineering · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Nudge, not sludge
Egalitarian motives in humans
The Short-Run and Long-Run Effects of Behavioral Interventions
Nested externalities and polycentric institutions
An international comparison of four polycentric approaches to climate and energy governance
High energy burden and low-income energy affordability
What do donations buy?
Social norms and energy conservation
Recognition of and response to energy poverty in the United States
Prospect Theory
Beyond Markets and States
New clean energy communities in polycentric settings
Which is the Fair Sex? Gender Differences in Altruism
Political power and renewable energy futures
Was it worthwhile? Where have the benefits of rooftop solar photovoltaic generation exceeded the cost
Combining climate, economic, and social policy builds public support for climate action in the US
Disparities in rooftop photovoltaics deployment in the United States by race and ethnicity
More alike than different
Would you add some kWhs to your food order? A forward-looking perspective on the energy landscape disruption portrayed by future actors in a distributed system
Rooftop solar for all
Public engagement with climate change
Cheap and Clean
Rules Rather than Discretion
Peer Pressure and Partnerships
Mobilizing in the Interest of Others
Structural Topic Models for Open‐Ended Survey Responses
Causal Inference in Conjoint Analysis
Inequity Aversion and the International Distribution of Trade Protection
A Theory of Fairness, Competition, and Cooperation
Social Desirability Bias and the Validity of Indirect Questioning
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |