In the wake of the 20-year anniversary of Earth Day in 1990 and the Gulf War shortly thereafter, environmental issues and renewable energy enjoyed renewed interest. Several states enacted new tax credits and began new loan and grant programs. In the late 1990s, states continued to take the lead in developing programs, policies, and incentives to promote the use of renewable energy, in part as a result of electric utility restructuring. The number of state incentives has grown steadily during the past few years—nearly 200 state financial incentives and as many regulatory policies are in effect across the.
