Michigan's RPS ballot defeat: A policy failure or success?

Authors

Fei Li, Michigan Technological University
Barry D. Solomon, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Adam Wellstead, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2014

Abstract

Despite heavy reliance on fossil fuels, Michigan's electorate soundly defeated a Renewable Energy Amendment in 2012 (Proposal 3). The proposal would have mandated that 25% of its electricity come from renewable energy resources by 2025. Prior to the election the State had legislated a 10% goal of adopting more renewable energy into its electricity system through a renewable portfolio standard. Was the defeat a policy failure? This paper employs concepts from the policy failure literature to answer the question. We argue that a traditional policy evaluation such as cost-benefit analysis (CBA) needs to be considered along with broader “political” evaluations. CBA results are complemented with political analysis, which reveal the complexity of evaluating key energy strategies.

Publisher's Statement

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Publisher's version of record: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2014.10.002

Publication Title

Energy Strategy Reviews

Recommended Citation

Li, F., Solomon, B. D., & Wellstead, A. (2014). Michigan's RPS ballot defeat: A policy failure or success?. Energy Strategy Reviews, 5, 78-87. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2014.10.002
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/social-sciences-fp/15