Abstract |
This document provides state and local governments with information on how to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) projects in the settlement of an enforcement action through Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). A SEP is an environmentally beneficial project that a violator voluntarily agrees to undertake in settlement of a civil penalty action. The settlement process can be an effective way to implement many diverse types of environmentally beneficial SEP projects other than just energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. However, this document synthesizes key ideas, examples, and resources available to state and local governments for enhancing the environmental benefit of compliance actions by using state and local SEPs to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy practices and technologies. Certainly, other environmentally beneficial projects could be promoted through SEPs and there are several other mechanisms to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects other than through enforcement settlements. However, these are not being explored in this document. This state and local SEP Toolkit pieces together relevant experience and information from many sources, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and several state and local governments. |