state climate policies Archives

state climate policies

Milestones in State Climate Policy

The first efforts to clean up the grid date back forty years, but state climate policy really got moving at the turn of the century.

The federal government’s interventions in climate policy have been erratic, driven by political polarization and alternating control of the White House. In contrast, state governments have engaged in steady campaigns to reduce carbon emissions. Some people seem to think this has been a recent innovation, but it has now been ongoing for a generation. Here are some the key milestone along the way, closing with Trump’s pledge to bulldoze state policies that don’t fall in line with his priorities.

2026: The Year Ahead

Here are six big things to watch.

What to watch for environmentally in 2026: court tests of Trump’s power, midterms, China, grid issues, and state energy moves. In 2025, Trump rolled out new initiatives at a dizzying rate. That story, in one form or another, dominated the news. This year, much of the news will again be about Trump, but he will have less control of the narrative. Legal and political responses to Trump will play a greater role, as will economic developments. Trump’s anti-environmental crusade could run into strong headwinds.

Climate Politics and Electoral Realignment

Some deep-seated dividing lines in U.S. politics seem to be eroding, with potential implications for climate policy.

The electorate is changing. Racial divisions are blurring, the GOP has gained a solid following among working class voters (especially whites), and college graduates and those with above median incomes have shifted to the Democrats. Among the many effects will be changes in the politics surrounding climate change. We will start to see an increased rate of success for advocates of climate actions in off-year and down-ballot races.

North Carolina’s New Climate Legislation

A major, bipartisan step forward in an unlikely state.

Last week, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed an important piece of climate legislation. I wrote last month about major, bipartisan climate legislation in Illinois. Like the Illinois law, the North Carolina law enjoyed broad bipartisan support. The North Carolina legislature is under firm Republican. Nevertheless, the bill passed the state senate by a 42 …

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Oregon Takes a Big Step Forward

New climate legislation sets a high bar for other states.

On Wednesday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a package of four clean energy bills. These bills move Oregon to the forefront of climate action. These laws ban new fossil fuel plants and set aggressive targets for the state’s two major utilities, requiring emission cuts of 80% by 2030, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. …

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Peer Production of Climate Action

Wikipedia and climate actions by cities and states have more in common than you might think.

Wikipedia is celebrating its twentieth birthday. When it was launched, this effort to create an encyclopedia seemed like a joke compared with Microsoft’s big-money effort, which was called Encarta. Encarta is long gone but Wikipedia has thrived beyond anyone’s expectations. Today, Wikipedia has fifty-five million entries, with 270,000 active editors a month. While imperfect, the …

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Election 2020: State Legislatures

The Outlook for State Climate Policy Might Improve

The key political races aren’t just about the White House or Congress. Control of state legislatures will also be important in shaping climate and energy policy — not to mention their ultimate effect on the composition of the U.S. House due to redistricting. One of my themes is the importance of state government to climate …

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The 2018 Elections: Governors

These nine races will shape the future of U.S. climate policy.

In the Trump era, states have become crucial to any hope of moving climate policy forward. That makes gubernatorial elections more crucial than ever. With that in mind, I’ve taken a look at crucial governors’ races to check out the potential effect on climate policy. My selection of states is based on lists of key …

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A Lot Fewer Climate Reporters at the Washington Post

The Drain is a weekly roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.

New Trump Nuclear Reactor Policy: “Trust Us”

The Administration is eliminating safeguards and courting greater skepticism about nuclear safety

The FREEDOM Act and Permit Certainty

Permit certainty bill has potential, but also some problems that could make it unworkable

What does UUD mean?

A key legal standard in public lands law is being used by the Trump Administration to stop renewable energy, but in the long run the Administration’s position may advance environmentalists objectives.

state climate policies

The first efforts to clean up the grid date back forty years, but state climate policy really got moving at the turn of the century.

Here are six big things to watch.

Some deep-seated dividing lines in U.S. politics seem to be eroding, with potential implications for climate policy.

A major, bipartisan step forward in an unlikely state.

New climate legislation sets a high bar for other states.

Wikipedia and climate actions by cities and states have more in common than you might think.

The Outlook for State Climate Policy Might Improve

These nine races will shape the future of U.S. climate policy.

Join Our Mailing List

Climate policy is changing rapidly. Stay in the loop with expert analysis via email Monday - Friday.

TRENDING

What might be a good path forward for the FREEDOM Act?

Permit certainty bill has beneficial judicial review provisions, but problematic provisions for damages and compensation.

Permit certainty bill has potential, but also some problems that could make it unworkable

A key legal standard in public lands law is being used by the Trump Administration to stop renewable energy, but in the long run the Administration’s position may advance environmentalists objectives.

Jeff Bezos’ murder of the Washington Post is a major hit, but there are hundreds of great environmental reporters out there in new media who deserve our support — and subscriptions.

Looking at the specifics of how New York’s SEQRA reform efforts would work

It’s a tweaked version of arguments that the Supreme Court rejected in 2007.

Looking at the data on ESA listed species to see if enviro groups strategically identify species to block development.

Just when we get over our shock over one development, another comes along.

The Seattle Seahawks came out on top at Sunday’s big game, but consumers and the environment joined the New England Patriots in the “losers” column.

The Drain is a weekly roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.

The Administration is eliminating safeguards and courting greater skepticism about nuclear safety

Permit certainty bill has potential, but also some problems that could make it unworkable

A key legal standard in public lands law is being used by the Trump Administration to stop renewable energy, but in the long run the Administration’s position may advance environmentalists objectives.

Looking at the specifics of how New York’s SEQRA reform efforts would work

It’s a tweaked version of arguments that the Supreme Court rejected in 2007.

Looking at the data on ESA listed species to see if enviro groups strategically identify species to block development.

Just when we get over our shock over one development, another comes along.

The Drain is a weekly roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.

Key takeaways from the UCLA Emmett Institute’s convening on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) in Santiago, Chile.