For most of the 20^th century, large-scale, utility-owned power plants dominated electricity generation in the United States. Today, however, a growing share of electricity comes from small-scale, distributed sources of electricity, including renewable energy (RE) sources such as solar and wind energy. Policies to govern RE are increasingly determined by a wide range of actors, including utilities, non-utility energy companies, community groups, or utility customers. RE offers new possibilities for clean energy generation, but also poses new regulatory and governance challenges given the broader range of actors involved in decision making. As states seek to increase their use of small-scale RE measures, many have begun to involve a wide range of stakeholders in clean energy policy implementation. Despite this increased activity, there has been little systematic research in how participation occurs or the impacts of stakeholder participation on decisions related to renewable energy policy implementation. In this study, I use a mixed-methods approach, including document analysis and key informant interviews, in two states—Colorado and Nevada—to look at the mechanisms through which stakeholders participate in renewable energy policy decision making, determine what motivates stakeholders to participate in these processes, and identify barriers that should be addressed to improve future participatory processes. Preliminary data analysis indicates that the participatory processes in both states vary widely in terms of inclusivity, representation of diverse stakeholder interests, communication methods, and the use of stakeholder input in decision making. A number of barriers to participating in renewable energy decision making have also been identified, and recommendations will be presented to improve existing and develop new participatory processes.