the U.S. has made renewable energy mandates an option for the states, who in turn have almost all given control of the mandates to their electricity monopolies (e.g., utilities). Typically, these monopolies use subsidized wind power either by building the generation themselves or conducting informal or formal bidding that is readily rigged to favor higher-cost bids from themselves and cronies. For example, Northern States Power (NSP) selected four $300 million plus wind projects last year: two owned by themselves and two led by a former NSP employee.