Debating the Ideas

IEI’s overall energy program of work has focused on starting a dialogue among stakeholders around explicit strategies for how state and local governments can help support this transformation.

IEI’s work, therefore, has largely been the result of its model public policy process which is founded on this basic principle of authentic debate among a diverse group of stakeholders.  As part of this process, in the fall of 2007 IEI convened its Energy Working Groups, comprised of leaders from the business, government, higher education and nonprofit sectors.

Working Group participants indentified 20 specific action items to foster the development and deployment of new technologies in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors. The 20 action items were vetted at the 2008 IEI Forum, and met with enthusiasm from the over 1200 Forum participants.

While the state has taken significant steps in the right direction to realize these action items, much more work needs to be done and IEI will continue to encourage this dialogue and promote the creation of a strong new energy economy.