Brian Marrs

This paper is intended to assist US policymakers and business leaders in evaluating the role of distributed solar PV in the American energy economy. Energy market dynamics and broader concerns about fiscal integrity following the 2008 financial crisis will likely place increased scrutiny on public financial incentives for clean energy.Germany’s demonstrated ability to lower these “soft” costs of solar offers a model for US policymakers to pursue effective governing decisions capable of reducing… Show more

This paper is intended to assist US policymakers and business leaders in evaluating the role of distributed solar PV in the American energy economy. Energy market dynamics and broader concerns about fiscal integrity following the 2008 financial crisis will likely place increased scrutiny on public financial incentives for clean energy.Germany’s demonstrated ability to lower these “soft” costs of solar offers a model for US policymakers to pursue effective governing decisions capable of reducing the costs of solar PV without additional or expensive support mechanisms. After discussing solar policy and related market dynamics over the past three years, this paper dissects the German model for distributed solar PV (DS). In doing so, this paper draws from the German DS experience in order to 1). emphasize the role of coordinated local, state, and federal policies in establishing Germany’s world-beating BoS costs 2). recommend industry dialogue with government regarding cost-effective DS policies in the United States, and 3). elucidate opportunities for business leaders and policymakers towards solving DS deployment barriers in the United States. Show less

I drafted and researched the "Resource Taxation" chapter of Pavan Sukdev's Corporation 2020. Here is the book's description from Island Press:

"Corporation 2020 presents new approaches to measuring the true costs of business and the corporation’s obligation to society. From his insightful look into the history of the corporation to his thoughtful discussion of the steps needed to craft a better corporate model, Sukhdev offers a hopeful vision for the role of business in shaping a more… Show more

I drafted and researched the "Resource Taxation" chapter of Pavan Sukdev's Corporation 2020. Here is the book's description from Island Press:

"Corporation 2020 presents new approaches to measuring the true costs of business and the corporation’s obligation to society. From his insightful look into the history of the corporation to his thoughtful discussion of the steps needed to craft a better corporate model, Sukhdev offers a hopeful vision for the role of business in shaping a more equitable, sustainable future." Show less

Anticipated publication date: October 2013. My chapter describes the ambitions and realities of the German Energiewende, or energy transition, from an industry perspective. Germany has transformed its energy market into the world's most ambitious clean energy laboratory. Successful or not, the outcome of this experiment will have influence on future energy and climate policies far beyond Germany and the European Union… Show more

Anticipated publication date: October 2013. My chapter describes the ambitions and realities of the German Energiewende, or energy transition, from an industry perspective. Germany has transformed its energy market into the world's most ambitious clean energy laboratory. Successful or not, the outcome of this experiment will have influence on future energy and climate policies far beyond Germany and the European Union.
(http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Sustainability-Transatlantic-Perspective-Multidisciplinary/dp/1137334479) Show less