Fostering renewable electricity markets in North America

Summary: The purpose of this paper is to assist governments of the three North American countries in supporting renewable electricity development by addressing informational and transactional barriers that add to renewable electricity costs, and by more actively assisting with policy implementation. This paper provides an overview of the key market demand and supply-side drivers for renewable electricity in each of the three North American countries. The paper identifies regulatory mandates, voluntary purchases, self-supply and financial incentives as the most important drivers of a renewable electricity market in North America today. The authors then explore the opportunities for growing the renewable electricity market in each of the three countries. This paper concludes with a series of brief recommendations for the market overall and for the Parties of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) to help foster a North American renewable electricity future.