Three States Where the Midterms Could Unleash a New Era for Clean Energy
This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. When Trump was elected in both 2016 and 2024, promising to make the federal government hostile to climate action, many climate advocates insisted that state and local governments would take up the mantle of pushing for clean energy. That’s the thesis of […]
This report, originally from Grist and now presented by the Climate Desk, explores how the recent Democratic victories in the midterms could set the stage for a new era of clean energy policy in three key states: Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These states, which have previously been under Republican control or held divided power, now hold trifectas – a combination of unified control of state legislative chambers and the governor's mansion – a monumental shift according to David Weiskopf, senior policy director at Climate Cabinet.
In Wisconsin, a state that has been less ambitious compared to its neighbors in the Upper Midwest regarding the transition to clean energy, Democrats are poised to push for more ambitious goals. The state currently aims to get all its power from clean sources by 2040, but has only set a modest 10 percent renewable electricity standard.
However, with Democrats in control, the next legislature may aim for a 100 percent clean electricity standard, potentially phasing out coal in the state and benefiting neighboring regions that share the same power grid.
Pennsylvania, a state known for its robust production of natural gas and coal, has historically been a hurdle for climate policy advancement. With Democrats securing control of the Senate, there's potential for new legislation on energy and water efficiency standards for appliances, a topic that has previously been blocked. Additionally, there's a possibility of advancing full-scope climate agenda items, including community solar and warehouse rooftop solar projects, and funding for struggling mass transit systems to reduce reliance on gasoline-powered cars.
Arizona, though not specifically mentioned in the source, falls under the "trifecta" mentioned in the headline. The potential for clean energy policy advancements in these three states represents a significant opportunity for progress, given the high emissions these states would contribute if they were a single country. As Weiskopf notes, "This is just a massive opportunity to make progress."
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
