Increasing the use of renewables in the global energy mix has become a top priority for policy makers. In this paper, we use a diffusion theory based approach to analyze the impact of government initiatives on the development of wind energy infrastructure focusing on the specific case of wind energy diffusion in India. We propose a new framework-the strategic structure matrix-as a way to characterize the strategic focus and analyze the effectiveness of different initiatives to increase wind power diffusion. We apply the matrix to explain the different pace and paths of wind energy growth observed in five Indian states: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Our findings suggest the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes multiple strategies across initiatives, local regulatory measures, and supply-side incentives. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.