Short Circuiting Policy: Interest Groups and the Battle Over Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the American States (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)

This book is incredibly well-researched, clear, and readable. Stokes details the successes, challenges, and failures of clean energy advocates to enact policies supporting renewable energy. She explains how citizens, political parties, and special interest groups all interact to make policy.One key theme of this book is the "fog of enactment", the fact that policy makers don't know the full impacts of their policy until after it is enacted. Another is "retrenchment", the scaling back of clean energy policies in response to clean energy opponents such as utilities and fossil fuel companies. Stokes also explains "policy feedback", the process by which those benefiting from a policy become advocates for keeping or strengthening that policy. Throughout the book, there are stories of state policies that saw all three of these effects. This book provides a good balance between documenting what is wrong with our system and explaining what we can do to change things.This book was thoroughly researched over the course of several years and proofread by dozens of academics and professionals. Every few sentences has a footnote with a source. Where Stokes injects her own opinions, she makes a clear distinction between her opinions and facts. Despite being dense with research, the book is also very engaging and readable; it reads like a novel rather than a textbook. For anyone who wants to know how energy policy works and how to change it, I highly recommend this book.

Excellent book. I learned a lot. Well written and easy to follow for a layperson. If you are interested in the energy transition at the state policy level this is the book for you

This book tells the story of clean energy policy, both its successes and its failures, in Arizona, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas. Stokes uses the concepts of positive feedback and policy rollbacks to organize these stories, and she examines why those four states have ended in a mix of outcomes. Chapter 3 frames the case studies with a high-level history of US energy policy across several periods, offering a very helpful synthesis of public utilities, energy policy reforms, and innovations in renewable energy.Throughout, Stokes uses interest groups to tell her stories of who gets what, when, and how. Unfortunately, she doesn’t develop a strong theory to help her; her literature review essentially provides a framework and a lot of statements about what may or could happen, without any real predictions.Because she sides unabashedly on behalf of low or zero carbon emissions, her case studies also used biased language. “Advocates” and “supporters” of renewables go to battle against “resisters,” “opponents,” and “deniers.” While I agree with her on the importance of drastic carbon reductions, by giving up objectivity Stokes made me question some of her causal claims. The lack of a strong theory reinforced my occasional doubts about her story.Overall, the book reflects the fact that Stokes is very well informed about the electricity business, the policy literature, and renewable energy options, It’s depressing to see the way that corporate interests get subsidies for dirty energy and deny consumers and businesses renewable energy options like cogeneration at manufacturing plants and rooftop solar on homes. She presents the material well, and you’ll learn a lot about clean energy policy in the United States.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book as I do not have a background in energy policy (just an interest in learning more about preventing climate change), but I was thoroughly surprised by Stokes' book. Not only did she explain some very complex and technical energy terms in simple reader-friendly ways, but she also can thought out examples in the case studies that demonstrated the terms and concepts she was trying to show. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in climate change, public policy, energy policy, etc.Great book!- From a political science major in college

This was a fascinating look at an area of politics I wasn't too familiar with before buying the book. It is an accessible guide to understanding the battles over climate change across the states, which don't receive nearly as much attention as they should as compared to battles in Congress. Yet as the author shows, the states have been incredibly important actors in shaping (and, more often than not, rolling back) climate policy. Although the book isn't explicitly billed this way, it is also is an in-depth look at how real political influence and lobbying happens through interest groups, campaign contributions, and astro-turf lobbying. It's a terrific read for anyone who cares about the environment, American policies, and money in politics.

I have a job in the transmission line industry, so I have some general interest here; but I could not get far into the book. To get her points, read the headings, everything else is just footnotes supporting the claim in the heading.

Great review of the history of energy and utilities in the u.s. and essentially how a dysfunctional system was created, followed by clear cut strategies for how to transition the system to one that is better for the public and the planet. Highly recommended to anyone interested in energy policy and especially for those starting off or engaging in advocacy.

Stokes deconstructs the politics of climate change using a set of legislative cases from around the country. She has great insights, and the book is rich with information while highly readable.

Me encanta el libro la portada y la impresión son de calidad. El único detalle fue en l paquetería ya que la esquina inferior llego golpeada.