Institutional Analysis of Standard Setting in the United States: A Preliminary Exploration

Barbara Parker, MIT, and Thomas E. Nutt-Powell MIT

8/29/2008
(Original Publish Date: 2/1/1979)

This paper, one of a series resulting from institutional analysis of photovoltaic (PV) acceptance, discusses standards and the standard setting process in the United States. Standards, and the manner in which standards are established, can play a significant role in facilitating or impeding the acceptance of solar technologies. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of standards for those concerned with ensuring the timely and appropriate acceptance of needed new energy sources in diverse economic and geographic sectors. The paper has three sections. The first provides a conceptual framework for understanding standards. The second section discusses a number of approaches for categorizing standards. Finally, the third section identifies the processes employed and the persons and organizations involved in the standards development process in the US.