A coalition of environmentalists, clean energy business proponents and the influential liberal think tank Center for American Progress (CAP) is pressing a plan that would combine state and local policies with federal administrative actions to advance clean energy initiatives, given the gridlock on Capitol Hill and little prospect for comprehensive energy or climate legislation in the next year, according to coalition members.

The plan, spelled out in a new report, "The Way Forward," advocates the adoption of 30 "clean energy policies" as a way to advance solar, wind, combined heat and power and other clean energy resources that is not contingent on Congress or the super committee on debt taking action by the end of the year.

The policies include state renewable portfolio standards (RPS), efficiency resource standards and regional greenhouse gas measures that would drive down carbon dioxide emissions and the cost of renewables. The state actions would be reinforced by activities at EPA and the Department of Transportation, such as the development of fuel economy standards for the transportation sector.

The coalition -- including CAP, Environment America, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), and the Blue Green Alliance -- also underscored at an Oct. 11 press conference the role of "non-traditional allies" such as the Department of

Defense in achieving economies of scale for clean energy and bringing new technologies to parity with fossil fuels. E2 Executive Director Judith Albert said that clean energy proponents need non-traditional allies given the inaction on Capitol Hill.

One such ally is DOD, which has determined climate change to be a threat and has a mandate to drive up efficiency and clean energy at its installations. E2 has begun an "active dialogue" with DOD to assist in achieving its environmental and energy goals with ideas on how to quickly move energy technologies to scale. Albert also said "standards make a difference" in driving clean energy advancement.

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