Suggested outline for policy memo:
10 pages single spaced
Writing to a specific decision maker that I want to influence
Head of foundation or advocacy organization
Legislator, governor, etc
Summary: 1 page
Problem
Recommendation
Problem
What’s broken: why it’s important, what will happen if it isn’t fixed, etc
Be quantitative but avoid jargon
Recommendations (30% of grade)
What should they do
How should they do it
How will it be evaluated
Can give alternative solution pathways
Stakeholders (15% of grade) can be integrated into problem and recommendation sections
Position on the problem
Reactions to the recommendations
Talking points/FAQ
Launching pad for final presentation: pitching the recommendations
Main points, distilled into the most critical arguments in the most accessible way
Topics
More specific is easier to address
you can choose anything related to any type of renewable energy policy.
Examples: wind energy production credits, siting wind/solar farms, community solar tax credits,
geothermal research and development, biofuel (ethanol) regulations, etc etc literally anything!