This report examines the overall impact on sustainable development of policies affecting solar energy in California, from 2002 to 2008, and Germany, from 1999 to 2006. Data is collected from the two different periods on the basis of three critical dimensions. The three dimensions are economic, environment and solar energy. After the data was collected, it was processed, and then entered into several three-dimensional diagrams. The diagrams are used to offer policymakers a useful tool to compare the impact of policy decisions on multiple criteria. The three-dimensional diagrams were developed as an extension and improvement of a triple triangle model used in triple-e evaluations. The three-dimensional improves over the previously two-dimensional model as it can graphically represent independent indicators in a quick and easy to understand format. After the three-dimensional diagrams were developed, the trends in California and Germany were compared and analyzed. It was eventually discovered that Germany clearly outperformed California in terms of sustainable energy.

Afgan, N. H., & Carvalho, M. G. (2002). Multi-criteria assessment of new and renewable energy power plants. Energy, 27(8), 739-755.
Agnolucci, P. (2006). Use of economic instruments in the German renewable electricity policy. Energy Policy, 34(18), 3538-3548.
Aki, H., Arnold, Z., Bennett, G., Knight, C., Lin, A., Walton, T., et al. (2009). Case Studies in American Innovation - A New Look at Government Involvement in Technological Development. The Breakthrough Institute(April 2009), 23-25.
Arguedas, C., & van Soest, D. P. (2009). On reducing the windfall profits in environmental subsidy programs. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 58(2), 192-205.
Baker, D. R. (2009, December 9, 2009). Green jobs just 1% of total in California. San Francisco Chronicle, from http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-12-09/business/17182660_1_green-jobs-count-jobs-california-s-overall-employment
Bauer, U. J. (2007). Q-Cells PV Forum. Taipei: 2007 Photovoltaic Forum and Exhibition Taiwan.
Benthema, A. v., Gillinghamb, K., & Sweeneyc, J. (2007). Learning-by-Doing and the Optimal Solar Policy in California. Stanford University.
Berry, T., & Jaccard, M. (2001). The renewable portfolio standard:: design considerations and an implementation survey. Energy Policy, 29(4), 263-277.
Boots, M. (2003). Green certificates and carbon trading in the Netherlands. Energy Policy, 31(1), 43-50.
Broehl, J. (2006, January 3, 2010). California Passes Long-Term Solar Energy Plan. Renewable Energy World Retrieved January 3, 2010, 2010, from http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2006/01/california-passes-long-term-solar-energy-plan-41631
Buehring, W. A., Hamilton, B. P.,Guziel, K. A., R. R. Cirillo. (1991). ENPEP: An Integrated Approach for Modelling National Energy Systems: Argonne National Laboratory.
California Air Resource Board. (2009). California Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Retrieved. from http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/inventory/inventory.htm.
California Department of Finance - Economic Researh Unit. (2009). California's World Ranking Sacramento: California Department of Financeo. Document Number)
California Energy Commision. (2008, December 10, 2009). Solar 101 - Historty of Solar Energy in California. Retrieved December 2, 2009, 2009, from http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/solar101/history.html
California Energy Commission. (2004). 2003 net system power calculation : staff report. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
California Energy Commission. (2008, December 10, 2009). California Solar Iniative - CSI. Retrieved December 3, 2009, 2009, from http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/csi/index.html
California Energy Commission. (2007). [Public Interest Energy Research Program of the California Energy Commission, report to the Legislature]. Sacramento, CA: State of California, the Resources Agency, California Energy Commission.
California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2007). 2006 net system power report. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2003a). 2002 Net system power report : Commission report. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2003b). Net system power calculation. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
Commission, E. (1995). The PRIMES Energy Model. Retrieved. from.
Connor, P. M. (2003). UK renewable energy policy: a review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 7(1), 65-82.
Dincer, I. (1999). Environmental impacts of energy. Energy Policy, 27(14), 845-854.
Dinica, V., & Arentsen, M. J. (2003). Green certificate trading in the Netherlands in the prospect of the European electricity market. Energy Policy, 31(7), 609-620.
Energy Commission. (2001). The new and clean energies utilization potential in Taiwan. In M. o. E. Affairs (Ed.). Taiwan: EC.
Energy Information Administration. (2003). Photovoltaic milestones. Retrieved June 2, 2008, 2008, from http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/renewable.energy.annual/backgrnd/chap11i.htm
European Commission Directorate General for Energy and Transport. (2008). EU Energy Figures 2009 Retrieved. from.
Exchange, N. Y. M. (2007). Oil Prices, 1994-2007. New York: NYMEX.
Exchange, N. Y. M. (2008). NYMEX Crude Oil Futures Close (Front Month). New York: New York Mercantile Exchange.
Executive Yuan Council for Non-nuclear Homeland. (2003). Nuclear-free Homeland Action Plan. In EYCNH (Ed.). Taiwan.
F.H. Murphy, J. J. C., S.H. Shaw, R. Sanders. (1988). Modeling and forecasting energy markets with the Intermediate Future Forecasting System. Operations Research, 36(3).
Fies, B. (2001). Photovoltaics rising – Beyond the first gigawatt. Electronic Power Research Institute Journal, 26(1), 13-20.
FIT Coalition. (2009, January 5, 2009). Comparison of the total installed solar generating capacity in the State of California and Germany over the last several years. Bringing Renewable Energy to America Retrieved January 5, 2009, 2010, from http://www.fitcoalition.com/
Fouquet, D., & Johansson, T. B. (2008). European renewable energy policy at crossroads--Focus on electricity support mechanisms. Energy Policy, 36(11), 4079-4092.
Friedman, T. L. (2006). The World is Flat : a Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (1st updated and expanded ed.). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. (2006). Solar Energy in Germany. London o. Document Number)
Gandibleux, X. (1999). Interactive multicriteria procedure exploiting a knowledge-based module to select electricity production alternatives: The CASTART system. European Journal of Operational Research, 113(2), 355-373.
German Solar Industry Association. (2004). The 100.000 Roofs Programme (Case study #8). Berlin: German Solar Industry Association. (R.-R. E. Action o. Document Number Altener 2002-157)
Goodstein, E. (1995). The economic roots of environmental decline: property rights or path dependence. Journal of Economic Issues, 29(4), 1029-1043.
Goumas, M., & Lygerou, V. (2000). An extension of the PROMETHEE method for decision making in fuzzy environment: Ranking of alternative energy exploitation projects. European Journal of Operational Research, 123(3), 606-613.
Grubb, M. (1994). Renewable energy strategies for Europe. Renewable Energy, 5(1-4), 83-101.
Hall, D. (1992). Social Cost of CO 2 Abatement from Energy Efficiency and Solar Power in the United States. Environmental and Resource Economics, 2(1), 21-42.
Hammond, A., Adriaanse, A., Rodenburg, E., Bryant, D., & Woodward, R. (1995). ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS: A Systematic Approach to Measuring
and Reporting on Environmental Policy Performance in the Context of
Sustainable Development (Report). Washington, D.C.: World Resources Institute. (W. R. Institute o. Document Number)
Harris, G., & Moynaha, S. (2007). The California Solar Initiative – Triumph, or Train Wreck? Grants Pass: SunCentric Incorporatedo. Document Number)
He, M., & Chen, J. (2009). Sustainable Development and Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Corporations. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics, 22, 323–339.
Henton, D., Melville, J., Grose, T., Chuang, D., Halter, G., Furrell, T., et al. (2009). Many Shades of Green: Next 10o. Document Number)
Hobbs, B. F., & Horn, G. T. F. (1997). Building public confidence in energy planning: a multimethod MCDM approach to demand-side planning at BC gas. Energy Policy, 25(3), 357-375.
Hopwood, D. (2007). PV: where are we now? Refocus, 8(4), 54-56, 58-59.
Huang, Y. H., & Wu, J. H. (2007). Technological system and renewable energy policy: A case study of solar photovoltaic in Taiwan. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 11(2), 345-356.
Hyde, D. (2009, October 27, 2009 ). Triangle Plot. DPlot Graph Software for Scientists and Engineers Retrieved December 15, 2009, 2009, from http://www.dplot.com/triangle_plot.htm
IEA. (2007). World Energy Outlook 2007 Edition. In I. E. Agency (Ed.), China and India Insights (2007 ed.). Paris, France: International Energy Agency.
International Atomic Energy Agency, & Commission of the European Communitites. (1996). Electricity, health, and the environment : comparative assessment in support of decision making : proceedings of a Symposium on Electricity, Health, and the Environment : Comparative Assessment in Support of Decision Making. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency.
International Atomic Energy Agency., & Commission of the European Communitites. (1996). Electricity, health, and the environment : comparative assessment in support of decision making : proceedings of a Symposium on Electricity, Health, and the Environment : Comparative Assessment in Support of Decision Making. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency.
International Monetary Fund. (2009). World economic outlook : October 2009 : globalization and inflation; October 2009 : financial systems and economic cycles. Washington (DC): IMF.
Jacobsson, S., & Lauber, V. (2006). The politics and policy of energy system transformation--explaining the German diffusion of renewable energy technology. Energy Policy, 34(3), 256-276.
Jaffe, A. B., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (1999). Energy-Efficient technologies and climate change policies: issues and evidence (No. 19). Washington, DC: RFF’s Climate Economics and Policy Programo. Document Number)
Kablan, M. (1997). Prioritization of decentralized electricity options available for rural areas in Jordan. Energy Conversion and Management, 38(14), 1515-1521.
Kahn, E. (1991). Electric utility planning and regulation (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.
Berkeley, Calif.: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ;
Universitywide Energy Research Group, University of California.
Kahn, R. L., Cannell, Charles F. (1957). The dynamics of interviewing; theory, technique, and cases. New York,: Wiley.
Kalicki, J. H., & Goldwyn, D. L. (2005). Energy and security : toward a new foreign policy strategy. Washington, D.C.
Baltimore: Woodrow Wilson Center Press ;
Johns Hopkins University Press.
Kancs, d. A., & Wohlgemuth, N. (2008). Evaluation of renewable energy policies in an integrated economic-energy-environment model. Forest Policy and Economics, 10(3), 128-139.
Kho, J. (2009, December 23, 2009). Why California Doesn’t Have a German-Style Solar Feed-In Tariff. Energy Retrieved December 23, 2009, 2009, from http://earth2tech.com/2009/06/18/why-california-doesnt-have-a-german-style-feed-in-tariff/
Kumar, D. D., & Chubin, D. E. (2000). Science, technology, and society : a sourcebook on research and practice. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
Langnifl, O., Diekmann, J., & Lehr, U. (2009). Advanced mechanisms for the promotion of renewable energy--Models for the future evolution of the German Renewable Energy Act. Energy Policy, 37(4), 1289-1297.
Liao, E. (2007, October 11, 2007). Solar Power Will Become the Mainstream of Global Power Supply in 2015. Paper presented at the 2007 Photovoltaic Forum and Exhibition Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
Linster, M. (2003). OECD Environmental Indicators Development, Measurement and Use. Paris: OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (OECD o. Document Number)
Lootsma, F. A., Boonekamp, P. G. M., Cooke, R. M., & Van Oostvoorn, F. (1990). Choice of a long-term strategy for the national electricity supply via scenario analysis and multi-criteria analysis. European Journal of Operational Research, 48(2), 189-203.
Lund, P. D. (2007). Effectiveness of policy measures in transforming the energy system. Energy Policy, 35(1), 627-639.
Lund, P. D. (2009). Effects of energy policies on industry expansion in renewable energy. Renewable Energy, 34(1), 53-64.
Madlener, R., & Fouquet, R. (1999). Markets for tradable renewable electricity certificates: Dutch experience and british prospects: St. John’s College, Oxfordo. Document Number)
Madlener, R., & Stagl, S. (2005). Sustainability-guided promotion of renewable electricity generation. Ecological Economics, 53(2), 147-167.
Madsen, H. O. (June 8, 2009). Solutions for the crucial 4 E’s: Energy Efficiency, Economy and Environment. Oslo: DNV. (DNV o. Document Number)
McDonough, W., & Braungart, M. (2002). Cradle to cradle : remaking the way we make things (1st ed.). New York: North Point Press.
Menanteau, P., Finon, D., & Lamy, M.-L. (2003). Prices versus quantities: choosing policies for promoting the development of renewable energy. Energy Policy, 31(8), 799-812.
Metz, D., Nyberg, M., & California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2008). 2007 net system power report Commission report. from http://bibpurl.oclc.org/web/28130
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-200-2008-002/CEC-200-2008-002-CMF.PDF
Metz, D., Nyberg, M., & California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2008). 2007 net system power report : staff report. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
Meyer, N. I., & Koefoed, A. L. (2003). Danish energy reform: policy implications for renewables. Energy Policy, 31(7), 597-607.
Michalos, A. (1997). Combining Social, Economic and Environmental Indicators to Measure Sustainable Human Well-Being. Social indicators research, Volume 40(1-2), 221-258.
Midilli, A., Dincer, I., & Ay, M. (2006). Green energy strategies for sustainable development. Energy Policy, 34(18), 3623-3633.
Mints, P. (2007). Germany - model success?: Germany has achieved much in terms of encouraging RE takeup, but what does the future hold? Refocus, 8(3), 48, 50-48, 50.
Mirasgedis, S., & Diakoulaki, D. (1997). Multicriteria analysis vs. externalities assessment for the comparative evaluation of electricity generation systems. European Journal of Operational Research, 102(2), 364-379.
Munda, G., Nijkamp, P., & Rietveld, P. (1995). Qualitative multicriteria methods for fuzzy evaluation problems: An illustration of economic-ecological evaluation. European Journal of Operational Research, 82(1), 79-97.
Murphy, F. H., Conti, J. J., Shaw, S. H., & Sanders, R. (1988). Modeling and forecasting energy markets with the Intermediate Future Forecasting System. Operations Research, 36(3).
Nesbitt, D. (1983). The theoretical foundation of the Decision Focus Inc. (DFI) generalised equilibrium modelling system (GEMS) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) LEAP model. Los Altos, CA.: Decision Focus Inc.
Net system power calculation. (2003). [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
Nordhaus, W., Houthakker, H., & Solow, R. (1973). The Allocation of Energy Resources. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 1973(No. 3), 48.
Nyberg, M., & California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2009). 2008 net system power report : staff report. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
Pan, A., Ewing, T., & California Energy Commission. (2005). 2004 net system power calculation : staff report. [Sacramento, Calif.]: California Energy Commission.
Pan, A., Ewing, T., & California Energy Commission. Electricity Analysis Office. (2005). 2004 net system power calculation : staff report. [Sacramento]: California Energy Commission.
Parkinson, R. (2000, September 1, 2009). The Triple E Model of Senate Reform. Canadian Politics Retrieved September 1, 2009, 2009, from http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/canadian_politics/37797
Saga, T. (2007). Present Status of Photovoltaic Industry and Issues in the Future. Taipei: 2007 Photovoltaic Forum and Exhibition Taiwan.
Savukov, I. M., Johnson, W. R., & Berry, H. G. (2002). Mixed configuration-interaction and many-body perturbation theory calculations of energies and oscillator strengths of J=1 odd states of neon.
Schaeffer, G. J., Voogt, M. H., & Sayigh, A. A. M. (2000). Policy Options for the Stimulation of Renewable Energy in a Liberalising Market: An Analysis. In World Renewable Energy Congress VI (pp. 1685-1688). Oxford: Pergamon.
Scheraga, J. D. (1990). "GEMINI: an energy-environmental model of the United States. Washington D.C. : U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyo. Document Number)
Shum, K. L., & Watanabe, C. (2007). Photovoltaic deployment strategy in Japan and the USA--an institutional appraisal. Energy Policy, 35(2), 1186-1195.
Storey, D. J., & Tether, B. S. (1998). Public policy measures to support new technology-based firms in the European Union. Research Policy, 26(9), 1037-1057.
Taylor, M. (2008). Beyond technology-push and demand-pull: Lessons from California's solar policy. Energy Economics, 30(6), 2829-2854.
U.S. Department of Commerce, B. o. E. A. (2009). Per Capita Personal Incom (Excel): U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. (B. o. E. Analysis o. Document Number)
United States Energy Information Administration. (2003). The National Energy Modeling System : an overview 2003. Washington, DC: Energy Information Administration, Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Weedy, B. M. (1989). Environmental aspects of route selection for overhead lines in the U.S.A. Electric Power Systems Research, 16(3), 217-226.
Woo, C. K., Lloyd, D., & Clayton, W. (2006). Did a local distribution company procure prudently during the California electricity crisis? Energy Policy, 34(16), 2552-2565.
Wood, J. (2006). Solar energy in Germany: A Market Review. Refocus, 7(3), 24-30.
World Bank. (2005, 2005). China Quick Facts. Retrieved November 10, 2009, 2009, from http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/CHINAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20680895~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:318950,00.html
World Bank. (2007). Cost of pollution in China: Economic estimates of physical damages.: World Banko. Document Number)
Worldwatch Institute. (2007). State of the world 2007 : our urban future : a Worldwatch Institute report on progress toward a sustainable society. xxxi, 250 p.
Wüstenhagen, R., & Bilharz, M. (2004). Green Energy Market Development in Germany: Effective Public Policy and Emerging Customer Demand. IWOe (111).
Xu, F.-L., Zhao, S.-S., Dawson, R. W., Hao, J.-Y., Zhang, Y., & Tao, S. (2006). A triangle model for evaluating the sustainability status and trends of economic development. Ecological Modelling, 195(3-4), 327-337.
Yonts, C. (2007a). Solar Maximum (No. 1818-8397). Hong Kong: CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. (C. (Firm) o. Document Number)
Yonts, C. (2007b). Solar Maximum - A sustainable source of investment returns o. Document Number)
Zsolnai, L., & Gasparski, W. (2002). Ethics and the future of capitalism. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers.
Zwaan, B. V. D. (2003). Prospects for PV: a learning curve analysis : Solar energy. Fuel and Energy Abstracts, 44(6), 393-393.