The framework of U.S. laws governing energy efficiency and renewable energy is one of fragmentation across levels of government, regions of the country, types of energy resources, regulatory techniques, and policy objectives. Those who attempt to navigate these various laws and accomplish a substantive objective, such as building a project, must be prepared to dive into a broad range of disparate, uncoordinated provisions that apply to the specific kind of facility and location where it would be built.

The Law of Clean Energy provides a current, clearly written explanation of the laws that apply and the critical legal issues involved in the transition to a clean energy economy.

Part I discusses the energy efficiency laws that exist at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as the mandates and goals written into law for renewable energy, and also considers the siting and permitting of renewable energy facilities.

Part II covers tax and nontax incentives for efficiency and renewables, relevant aspects of the sale of electricity and ratemaking, the various ways that transactions for the financing of efficiency and renewables are structured, and government consumption and purchase of energy.

Part III explores the use of energy in particular sectors such as agriculture and forestry, appliances, lighting, computers, buildings, motor vehicles, and distributed generation.

Part IV covers different kinds of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, hydropower and tides, waves, and ocean currents) as well as energy transmission and storage. The book closes with a 50-state survey of laws on energy efficiency and renewables.