LOCAL

Never before have local actions been so critical. Governors, mayors, and town boards have initiated and expanded their commitments to climate action even as the U.S. federal government has stepped away from international climate leadership and rolled back more than 95 Obama-era climate policies, ambitions and regulations. There is a fascinating US interactive map, populated in real time, showing a geographical overview of financial incentives and regulatory policies, state-by-state, that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency here.

States, Districts, and Territories are taking the initiative to switch over to renewable energy sources.

Already, in 2015, Hawaii established a goal of 100% renewable electricity sources by 2045.

In 2018, under Governor Jerry Brown, California required that 50% of their electricity be powered by renewable resources by 2025 and 60% by 2030, while calling for a “bold path” toward 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045.

By May 2019, (following Washington D.C. in January; New Mexico in March; Nevada and Puerto Rico in April) Washington became the 5th state to pass a 100% clean energy target. By the third week of June, New York’s Senate & Assembly both passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Signed by Governor Cuomo on July 18, 2019, it is the most comprehensive and aggressive climate change legislation in the nation.

Gov. Janet Mills addressed the UN on September 23, 2019, and pledged that Maine will go carbon neutral by 2045; Colorado signed legislation which reduces 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%; Nevada signed legislation to move to 50% renewable by 2030, and several more states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, adopted plans to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050, with Washington delivering legislation mandating 100% clean electricity by 2045.

Cities, towns and municipalities are equally motivated: over 153 cities and thirteen counties have already adopted ambitious 100% clean energy goals. Six additional U.S. cities — Aspen CO, Burlington VT, Georgetown TX, Greensburg KS, Rock Port MO, and Kodiak Island AK — have already hit their targets, generating 100% of their energy from clean, non-polluting and renewable sources.

LOCAL NEWS

Politico

Wall Street firms face W.Va. boycott over alleged fossil fuel bias

By Jordan Wolman 06/14/22

BlackRock Inc., Wells Fargo & Co., JP Morgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and U.S. Bancorp are due to be placed on West Virginia’s Restricted Financial Institution List in 45…

USA Today

Red voters for green energy? Conservatives say they support solar and wind power too

By Kyle Bagenstose 06/10/22

During the Cold War, John Lehman served as Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan. Later, he was appointed a Republican member of the 9/11 commission.

The Hill

Trump-era rollbacks left US behind peers in climate change fight: report

By Zak Budryk 06/01/22

For the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), researchers traced countries’ progress toward net-zero emissions, a goal nearly every nation has established. From 2010 to 2019, the U.S. ranked 20th out of 22 western democracies and 43rd…

Salon

“No time to ask nicely”: Protesters arrested after blocking roads over Manchin, Sinema obstruction

By Julia Conley 05/24/22

Pro-democracy campaigners in West Virginia and Arizona on Monday risked arrest at sit-ins in downtown Charleston and Tucson, demanding that Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema end obstruction of their party's agenda and allow…

E&E News

Manchin’s strategy isn’t climate denial — it’s craftier

By Chelsea Harvey 12/23/21

Sen. Joe Manchin isn’t a climate denier — at least not in the traditional sense. He doesn’t deny the existence of human-caused climate change.

npr

What losing Build Back Better means for climate change

By Lauren Sommer 12/20/21

With billions of dollars for clean energy, the Build Back Better legislation has the potential to substantially and rapidly cut heat-trapping emissions in the U.S. But Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., rejected the bill on Sunday,…

The Hill

Climate hawks pressure Biden to replace Fed chair

By Sylvan Lane 09/02/21

Environmentalists are pressing President Biden to factor in the Federal Reserve’s record on climate change under Jerome Powell when he decides whether to renominate the central bank’s chairman for a second term.

KEY RESOURCES

Many changes are going to come about because politicians fight to control global warming through laws and regulations. Some of them are worthy of our praise and support. These governors have joined the US Climate Alliance and have pledged to uphold the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement within their respective state.

Transportation & Climate Initiative

TCI’s Regional Policy Design Process

05/15/20

In light of the unprecedented need for governors and agencies to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transportation and Climate Initiative jurisdictions have shared an adjusted timeline for developing a regional clean…

To Counteract Trump on Climate, States Set Clean Energy Targets

09/24/19

Democratic state lawmakers passed a wave of bills this year they hope will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, even as the Trump administration moves in the opposite direction.

The United States Conference of Mayors

07/02/19

The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with a population of 30,000 or larger. Each city is represented by its chief elected official, the mayor. View their 2019 Adopted…

Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Change

05/28/19

Co-chaired by Maros Sefcovic and Michael Bloomberg, The Global Covenant of Mayors serves cities and local governments by mobilizing and supporting ambitious, measurable, planned climate and energy action in their communities by working with city/regional…

USCA

United States Climate Alliance

04/05/19

The United States Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Smart, coordinated state action can ensure that the United States…

100% Commitments in Cities, Counties, & States

04/05/19

Across the U.S. over 90 cities, more than ten counties and two states, have already adopted ambitious 100% clean energy goals. Six cities in the U.S.--Aspen, Burlington, Georgetown, Greensburg, Rock port, and Kodiak Island--have already…

We Are Still In

01/31/19

Already in 2017, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg formed the “We Are Still In” coalition, which now includes some 3,500 leaders across the country who have pledged action on climate change that would, if…

Citizens Climate Lobby

01/19/19

Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. By building upon shared values rather than partisan divides, and empowering our supporters to work in keeping…

Beyond Carbon

01/09/20

Check if your state, territory, or district is working on climate and clean energy policies, including 100% clean energy laws, carbon pollution reduction targets, and policies to expand transit and support electric vehicles.

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Climate Solutions

Delivering on the green wave in 2019

By Meredith Connolly 11/16/18

Wow! We just witnessed a green wave last week, with Oregon voters delivering major victories for the climate up and down the ballot on Election Day. I am so excited about what the election results…

Willamette Week

Portland’s Clean Energy Measure Soars to Victory

By Nigel Jaquiss 11/06/18

On April 25, 2018, the New York State Assembly passed the Climate and Community Protection Act (A. 8270B, Englebright) for the third consecutive session, by a margin of 99 in favor, 31 opposed. The bill…

Charlotte Observer

NC commits to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2025

By John Murawski and Will Doran 10/29/18

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper prefaced his announcement by saying that powerful hurricanes and other consequences of climate change are forcing government to take action on climate.

The New York Times

Will One State Go It Alone to Make Polluters Pay?

By Kirk Johnson 10/26/18

Solar replaces coal in the state of Washington and Election Day will decide if Washington will become the first state to pass a carbon tax

Vox

Washington state has a ballot to approve a carbon tax. Revenues would go to clean air, water, energy, and communities

By David Roberts 10/26/18

Lots of controversy. The fee would be charged to large carbon emitters and fossil fuel sellers based on the carbon content of the fuels sold or used in the state. The costs would come back…

The Washington Post

California blasts Trump proposal to freeze fuel-efficiency standards as ‘flawed’ and ‘illegal’

By Brady Dennis and Michael Laris 10/26/18

California officials on Friday plan to submit a 400-page repudiation of the Trump administration’s proposal to freeze fuel-efficiency standards for the nation’s cars and trucks through 2026, calling it a deeply flawed, disingenuous effort that…

Bloomberg

California to Fight ‘Unlawful’ Trump Fuel Economy Rollback

By John Lippert 10/24/18

Trump plan won’t save lives, attorney general tells reporters. State will join 18 others in opposition to plan in filing.

Washington Monthly

The Senate Race That Climate Change Could Tip

By Megan Hart 10/23/18

Voter interest in environmental issues is exceptionally high this year, according to Jonathan Webber, the deputy director of Florida Conservation Voters, a non-partisan organization that supports candidates who will advocate for the environment. “I’ve never…

The Washington Post

The Energy 202: California and the Trump administration rarely agree on energy policy. Here’s an exception.

By Dino Grandoni 10/22/18

Under President Trump, the federal government and the nation’s most populous state have clashed on a number of fronts when it comes to energy and environmental policy. But there’s at least one thing California and…

New York Times

Jerry Brown Made Climate Change His Issue. Now, He’s Not Sure How Much Politicians Can Do.

By Somini Sengupta 09/18/18

The California governor, set to retire in January, made global warming a signature cause. His appraisal: “I don’t know if I’m an optimist. I’m a realist.”

Huffington Post

Andrew Cuomo Faces An Environmental Revolt

By Alexander C. Kaufman 09/01/18

The New York governor’s primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon, has emboldened activists frustrated by his ties to the fossil fuel industry and refusal to back serious climate legislation.

The Nation

Jerry Brown vs. the Climate Wreckers: Is He Doing Enough?

By Mark Hertsgaard 08/28/18

The California governor has led the nation in reducing emissions, but activists say he won’t take the next step: leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

LA Times

California Assembly advances 100% clean energy bill

By Liam Dillon 08/28/18

California would set some of the nation’s strongest clean energy goals if legislation that cleared a key vote in the Assembly on Tuesday, bringing the state a step closer to ending its reliance on fossil…

Huffington Post

New York City Just Took Historic Step Toward Cutting Its Top Source Of Climate Pollution

By Alexander C. Kaufman 08/20/18

Medium

Cuomo Pushes Environmental Protections While Accepting Oil & Gas Donations

By Josefa Velasquez and Alex Kotch 04/27/18

As New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo seeks to bolster his environmental platform amid a contentious primary race, campaign finance records show that the Democratic governor has taken in more than $100,000 from the oil and…

NY Renews

New York State Assembly Passes the Climate and Community Protection Act

04/25/18

New York Daily News

City building a 4.5-mile wall of dunes, with 7,000 sand bags, to protect Rockaway

By Lisa L. Colangelo 06/18/13

The city is creating a massive line of sand dunes to help protect the Rockaway shoreline from future storms, Parks Department officials said Tuesday.

Citizens Climate Lobby

Coast to coast state carbon pricing efforts

By Lynn Meyer 09/11/18

Coast to coast state carbon pricing efforts By Lynn Meyer With raging wildfires polluting the air throughout the northwest, storms and flooding ravaging the east coast, and red tide closing the gulf state beaches, it’s…

NBC News Las Vegas

Gov. Sisolak announces Nevada will be the 23rd state to join U.S. Climate Alliance

By Phillip Moyer 03/12/19

The United States may have pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the world, but that many individual states have decided to follow the agreement's goals anyway.On…

Brown Daily Herald

State moves to support research on R.I. Green New Deal

By Alex Reice 03/12/19

Promises of a Green New Deal at the national level trickled down to the Ocean State Thursday, when politicians and community activists alike gathered in the Rhode Island State House to announce plans to research…

Bloomberg

San Francisco’s Version of a Green New Deal Is Taking Over Its Power Company

By David R Baker 03/12/19

What happens when a famously left-leaning city dives into the buttoned-down business of electric utilities? San Francisco may soon find out. City officials are studying the possibility of creating their own utility out of the…

Idaho Statesman

Idaho lawmakers hold 1st climate change hearing — and no one argued about its existence, causes

By Rocky Barker 03/11/19

Idaho lawmakers had their first official hearing about climate change — and no one argued about its existence or causes. The House Environment, Energy and Technology committee hearing on Wednesday, carefully scripted through negotiations between…

VT Digger

Vermont: 16 towns pass Town Meeting climate change resolutions

By Ellie French 03/06/19

Sixteen Vermont towns passed non-binding climate change resolutions on Town Meeting Day, bringing the state total to 55 municipalities. The resolutions call for an end to construction of fossil fuel infrastructure, a commitment to 100…

Boston Globe

DeLeo proposes plan to counter climate change by giving power, resources to communities

By Chris Lisinski 02/24/19

House Speaker Robert DeLeo has proposed a sweeping $1 billion environmental grant program that, over the next decade, would fund municipal efforts to build renewable-energy infrastructure and invest in climate resiliency programs.

Bloomberg

The Energy 202: Oregon pushes sweeping climate bill after Democrats win big in 2018

By Dino Grandoni 02/22/19

Fresh off of expanding their legislative majority in Oregon, Democrats in the state ravaged by wildfires have put forward sweeping climate legislation.The 2018 election not only replaced Republican administrations in swing states like Michigan and…

Westword

Colorado: Fracking Reforms Are Coming to the Capitol — and So Is a Climate Bill

By Chase Woodruff 02/22/19

Anticipation is mounting at the State Capitol as Democrats prepare to unveil a major package of reforms to Colorado oil and gas law — but as contentious as that fight will undoubtedly be, it might…

Florida Politics

Harry Cohen’s climate resiliency plan is ‘critical’ to fight sea level rise

By Janelle Irwin Taylor 02/21/19

Tampa mayoral candidate Harry Cohen wants to ensure the city’s climate future by ensuring stormwater system upgrades are completed, continuing to ban nitrate fertilizers during rainy months and incentivizing environmentally friendly development and redevelopment. Cohen,…

New York Times

Miami Battles Rising Seas

By Ban Ki-moon and Francis Suarez 02/20/19

Climate change is not a distant threat for Miami; it’s a daily presence in people’s lives. The city has been fighting to stay above water for decades. It knows that its future as a vibrant…

Utility Dive

Seattle mayor proposes heating oil tax to push electrification

By Jason Plautz 08/09/19

Durkan has set a goal of making Seattle carbon neutral by 2050, an ambitious plan that has the city looking at all angles to reduce emissions.

Smart Cities Dive

Seattle mayor releases climate action plan

By Katie Pyzyk 04/06/18

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, D, has released the Seattle Climate Action Plan, which contains 12 initiatives for helping the city meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

EcoWatch

94 World Mayors Call for Green New Deal, Blast Slow National Actions

By Olivia Rosane 10/10/19

Disappointed by the lack of concrete action at September's UN Climate Action Summit, the mayors of some of the world's biggest cities are taking matters into their own hands.

The Hill

US governors, mayors, businesses, commit to Paris climate pact goals

By Timothy Cama 06/05/17

More than 1,000 governors, mayors, businesses and others are committing to uphold the goals of the Paris climate change agreement.

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