Alaska

August 9, 2024

• Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed the following bills into law on July 31st to address energy costs and diversify energy production:
  • HB 273 — Establishes a fund under the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to assist with financing for the development of renewable energy projects. The “Alaska Energy Independence Fund” aims to attract federal clean energy funding and offer loans for renewable energy projects.
  • HB 307 — Consolidates management of the electric transmission serving Alaska’s Railbelt within the Alaska Energy Authority and aims to open access to independent energy producers, such as solar and wind facilities.
  • HB 50 — While primarily focused on carbon capture and storage, the bill also modifies the state’s geothermal leasing program, allowing for larger total lease holdings and making other changes intended to increase geothermal development.

August 23, 2024

• Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed SB 152 into law on August 13th, boosting community solar projects by allowing residents to purchase shares in community-owned solar arrays not located on their property.

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Arizona

February 9, 2024

• On February 6th, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) voted in favor of motions to repeal the state’s energy efficiency and renewable portfolio standards (RPS). ACC staff have been directed to draft rules to repeal both policies, which, once published, will then have a public comment period.

March 8, 2024

• On March 1st, Arizona released the state’s first Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan to identify near and long term recommendations to address extreme heat in Arizona. Governor Hobbs also announced the creation of the nation’s first statewide Chief Heat Officer position, a key recommendation in the plan.

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California

January 31, 2024

• Starting July 1st, California will no longer allow new buildings that burn fossil fuels on-site to receive subsidies for electric line extensions. The decision by the California Public Utilities Commission is intended to disincentivize new gas infrastructure and encourage all-electric new building construction.

February 23, 2024

• The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a plan to meet a 25 million metric ton (MMT) greenhouse gas target for the electricity sector by 2035. This new goal, updated from the 35 MMT target set in 2022, also requires the state to build more than 56 gigawatts (GW) of additional clean energy generation and decrease the use of natural gas plants 70 percent by 2035 compared to 2024 usage.

March 22, 2024

• The California Energy Commission voted unanimously to begin a process to incorporate the value of “non-energy benefits,” such as health impacts and job creation, in future decisions about the state’s energy mix. After the Energy Commission determines non-energy benefit values, the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC), which approves energy generation projects proposed by the state’s large utilities, is also expected to incorporate them into its own approval process.

September 20, 2024

• On August 26th, California’s Office of Administrative Law approved the Well Stimulation Treatment Permitting Regulation to ban fracking in the state. The regulations prohibit the  Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) Division from issuing new permits to conduct well stimulation treatments, which includes fracking for oil and gas wells.
• The state’s Energy Commission adopted the latest version of California’s building energy codes on September 11th. The 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards encourage installing heat pumps in new homes and certain nonresidential buildings; replacing old HVAC units with high-efficiency systems in existing commercial buildings; and establishing electric-ready requirements for commercial kitchens and some multifamily buildings. The adopted 2025 update would go into effect on January 1st, 2026 if approved by the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) later this year.

October 4, 2024

• California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of climate bills into law in September, focused on oil and gas production, sustainable transportation, building electrification, and waste reduction, including:
• AB 3233 — Allows cities, counties, and local voters to block construction of new oil and gas wells in their communities. This law overturns a 2023 state Supreme Court ruling that nullified a ballot measure that Monterey County voters passed in 2016 to ban new oil and gas wells over pollution concerns.
• AB 2716 — Prohibits the operation of low-production oil and gas wells in the Inglewood Oil Field within the Baldwin Hills Conservancy in Los Angeles County, and imposes fines for wells within the state’s new 3,200-foot buffer zone between oil and gas operations and sensitive sites such as homes.
• AB 1866 — Increases requirements to plug and clean up the state’s 40,000 idle oil and gas wells, requiring oil companies to plug between 10 and 20 percent of their idle wells every year — an increase from the current requirement of six percent — depending on their inventory of wells.
• SB 1221 — Directs the California Public Utilities Commission to work with the state’s three major investor-owned utilities to launch up to 30 neighborhood-scale building electrification and decarbonization pilot projects where it’s cost-effective for utilities to end gas service and transition customers to electric appliances.
• AB 1359 — Allows counties to serve as lead agencies (instead of the state) for permitting and environmental review of geothermal energy projects.
• SB 941 — Instructs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to assess emitting industrial technologies and the availability of zero-emission alternatives in its next climate plan.
• SB 1006 — Requires utilities to study the feasibility of grid enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors and then file a report with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
• SB 59 — Requires all new electric vehicles sold in the state to be equipped for bidirectional charging by 2027, allowing their batteries to help back up the grid.
• SB 960 — Requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to make improvements for biking, walking, and transit infrastructure when it upgrades state-owned roads.
• AB 2086 — Directs Caltrans to track and report annually on how state transportation investments support state goals on safety, equity, climate action, and economic prosperity.
• AB 1284 — Supports cooperation on natural resources stewardship by clarifying and encouraging co-management agreements between Tribal Nations and the state.
• SB 1053 — Eliminates plastic bags at grocery store checkout lanes, so that only paper bags are available.
• AB 660 — Prohibits food retailers from using the term “sell by” on food packaging, requiring them to switch to “use by” or “best if used by” to prevent unnecessary food waste.
• CARB also released an updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory for 2000 through 2022. The updated report found that emissions dropped 2.4 percent from 2021 to 2022.
• During Climate Week, Governor Newsom announced a new state initiative to mobilize one million Californians to take climate action at home and in their communities. The Climate Action Counts initiative highlights 10 priority actions residents can take, including reducing food waste, supporting local farmers, and using sustainable transportation options.

November 15, 2024

• The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to set stricter carbon intensity targets across the state for transportation fuels, including gasoline and diesel. This update to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard increases the carbon-intensity reduction target from its previous target of 20 percent to 30 percent in 2030, and to 90 percent by 2045.

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Colorado

January 12, 2024

• Colorado released a series of reports at the end of December, consisting of a biannual progress report on the state’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap, an updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory through 2020, and a legislative report summarizing key emissions inventory findings and recommendations for near-term actions to further reduce emissions. The state is also planning to release an updated Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap (“2.0”) within the next few months.

March 8, 2024

• Colorado released an updated version of its climate roadmap, called the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0, that outlines more than 40 actions state agencies will take over the next three years to reduce emissions and help meet its 2030 climate target. Strategies include:
  • Building more complete and connected streets
  • Increasing energy efficiency and electrification for the state’s affordable housing programs
  • Streamlining local electric vehicle charger deployment
  • Developing 2035 clean heat targets for gas utilities
  • Plugging oil and gas wells and studying alternative uses for wells
  • Begin developing a statewide industrial decarbonization strategy

May 31, 2024

• Colorado’s legislative session ended on May 8th, and Governor Jared Polis signed the following climate and energy bills into law on May 21st and 22nd:
  • SB 24-212 — Requires the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission to provide technical assistance to local and Tribal governments in formulating land use codes for renewable energy projects and evaluating proposed projects. The legislation directs the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to create a repository of model codes and ordinances for renewable energy projects, and requires the CEO to evaluate and report on local government permitting of renewable energy projects, as well as their community benefits and wildlife habitat mitigation. Local governments must get consent from Tribal governments before approving projects on Tribal land.
  • HB 24-1313 — Encourages the development of more housing near transit and commercial centers by requiring urban communities with frequent transit to set housing density targets and develop affordability and displacement mitigation strategies. The law also establishes a grant program to help local governments upgrade infrastructure to facilitate increased density near transit.
  • SB 24-214 — Directs the CEO to study remaining barriers to the adoption of heat pump technology across the state and to make recommendations to the legislature for how best to support a new building standard.
  • HB 24-1338 — Creates the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to coordinate environmental justice (EJ) work across government agencies, increase state engagement with disproportionately impacted communities (DICs), and develop EJ goals for CDPHE. The law also requires the creation of at least two Environmental Equity and Cumulative Impact Analyses to analyze the cumulative air, water, soil, and demographic impacts in specific DICs.
  • SB 24-218 — Aligns Xcel Energy’s investments in its electrical distribution system with state goals to expand the use of electric vehicles, beneficial electrification, and distributed solar. The bill also establishes a Line Worker Apprenticeship Grant Program to expand apprenticeship programs for transmission and distribution and requires utilities to increase staff to meet customer needs.
  • HB 24-1370 — Facilitates partnerships between utilities and local governments interested in avoiding costly investments in new gas pipelines by piloting neighborhood-scale alternative projects relying on clean electricity.

June 14, 2024

• Colorado’s legislative session ended on May 8th, and Governor Jared Polis signed the following climate and energy bills into law on May 17th:
  • SB 24-230 — Establishes a new fee on oil and gas production to fund increased transit service across the state.
  • SB 24-184 — Sets a new fee on rental cars to fund the construction of long-distance passenger rail throughout the state. The bill also aligns existing state transportation funding sources with the state’s greenhouse gas reduction requirements for transportation, ensuring that large investments help reduce emissions and support multimodal infrastructure.
  • SB 24-032 — Codifies a set of grant programs that allow transit agencies to offer free transit during ozone season and provide free transit for youth year-round. It allocates $7 million annually for ozone season transit and $7 million annually for free fares for youth. The bill also establishes a committee to develop a proposal for a statewide transit pass that can work across transit agencies in the state.
  • SB 24-229 — Requires more modeling of effects of air pollution in disproportionately impacted communities and strengthens air violation enforcement mechanisms and public communication. The bill codifies nitrogen oxide reduction targets from oil and gas production and sets up a new rulemaking for emissions controls on oil and gas.

October 4, 2024

• On September 19th, Colorado’s Transportation Commission adopted new safety, climate, and multimodal transportation goals for developing the state’s 2050 Statewide Transportation Plan. Known as Policy Directive 14 (PD-14), the document establishes the overarching policy and objectives for the development and implementation of Colorado’s  statewide transportation plans. Updated PD-14 goals include:
  • Reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2037, relative to a 2005 baseline;
  • Expand statewide transit service by 66.7 million rides by 2037, compared to a 2023 baseline; and
  • Reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by one percent annually.

October 18, 2024

• On October 15th, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) adopted rules to address and mitigate the cumulative impacts of oil and gas drilling projects. Starting December 15, 2024, the “Cumulative Impacts and Enhanced Systems and Practices Rules” will require oil and gas operators seeking drilling permits in certain areas to better analyze cumulative impacts and follow more rigorous community outreach protocols. Although state law requires the Commission to protect the state’s disproportionately impacted communities, the final rule did not include measures such as stricter enforcement of a setback requirement between drilling sites and occupied buildings that were included in previous drafts.

December 7, 2024

• Colorado released a new plan for reducing transportation emissions, increasing access to public and active transportation, and transit-oriented development. The plan, Transportation Vision 2035, sets goals to nearly double the number of trips taken by walking, public transportation, or biking by 2035, and to reduce non-auto transportation emissions by 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) by that same year.

November 15, 2024

• On November 12th, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Energy Office released an updated version of its 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. The report shows the state is still not on track to achieve reductions, but the gap is smaller than previously reported.

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Delaware

September 20, 2024

• Delaware Governor John Carney signed a package of five climate bills on September 5th, which includes:
  • SB 265 — Also known as the “Delaware Energy Solutions Act of 2024”, authorizes the State Energy Office (SEO), the Delaware Public Service Commission, and the Delaware Renewable Energy Task Force to develop and conduct solicitations for up to 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind development. Proposals will: (1) need to have a term of at least 20 years, (2) meet benchmark pricing guidelines, (3) describe any potential impacts to the electrical transmission system and energy markets in Delaware, (4) specify a number of detailed economic costs and benefits for the state, and (5) align with the state’s climate plan. The bill also encourages regional cooperation and includes provisions allowing for streamlined development of onshore transmission.
  • SB 237 — Amends the requirements for municipal comprehensive plans so municipalities with populations greater than 2,000 are required to incorporate community resiliency and considerations of climate impacts into their plan.
  • House Substitute 2 for HB 13 — Requires the Director of the Sustainable Energy Utility to administer a program to provide financial assistance to residents for the cost of purchase and installation of electric vehicle supply equipment. Up to 90 percent of the purchase and installation costs may be covered for low-income applicants, and up to 50 percent of the costs can be covered for all other applicants.
  • HB 9 — Requires that all passenger and light-duty vehicles owned and operated by the state to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2040, with interim targets of 15 percent by 2026, 25 percent by 2029, and 50 percent by 2035.
  • HB 402 — Requires new schools and state buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to be solar ready.

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Georgia

May 31, 2024

• On April 25th, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed HB 206 to enable a commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) program. The program allows commercial property owners to finance efficiency upgrades with loans tied to the property.

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Hawai’i

January 31, 2024

• In December, Hawaiʻi released its Pathways to Decarbonization report outlining policies to achieve net-negative emissions by 2045, as required by Act 238 enacted in 2022. Key strategies include increasing energy efficiency, reducing vehicle miles traveled, and electrifying transportation.

May 17, 2024

• Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green announced the creation of the state’s Climate Advisory Team (CAT) on May 2nd. The new advisory body will make recommendations on how to durably and equitably mitigate the financial impacts of climate change and climate disasters.

June 28, 2024

• On June 20th, Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green announced the settlement agreement in the constitutional climate case Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT). The agreement acknowledges the constitutional rights of Hawaiʻi’s youth to a life-sustaining climate and confirms the commitment by HDOT to plan and implement transformative changes of Hawaiʻi’s transportation system to achieve the state’s goal of net-negative emissions by 2045. SB 1024, enacted in 2023, also established a goal of net-zero transportation emissions by 2045.

November 15, 2024

• The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) created a Hawaiʻi Youth Transportation Council to serve as a working group to advise HDOT on its climate mitigation and adaptation commitments and programs. The new council’s creation is a result of the Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation constitutional climate settlement agreement reached in June 2024 between HDOT and youth advocates.

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Illinois

June 28, 2024

• On May 30th, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) adopted the state’s first Renewable Energy Access Plan (REAP), a policy roadmap to meet Illinois’ clean energy and decarbonization goals. The REAP makes recommendations around five strategic categories, including transitioning to 100 percent clean energy, planning and utilizing transmission effectively, and tracking progress towards Illinois’ climate policy goals.

July 26, 2024

• Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed SB 1289 into law on July 18th. Also known as the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act, the law establishes regulations on carbon capture and storage and places a two-year moratorium on carbon pipelines while federal safety guidelines are established. After the moratorium expires, the law prohibits projects that will increase pollution, and bans the use of carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery.

August 23, 2024

• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 2363 into law on August 9th to phase out fluorescent lighting.

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Iowa

October 4, 2024

• A new green bank launched in Iowa on September 25th, called the Iowa Energy Fund, to increase access to federal funding and fund building efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state.

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Kansas

October 4, 2024

• The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approved a siting plan for two transmission lines to connect wind and solar farms in the state to the Grain Belt Express, an 800-mile transmission line spanning four states.

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Maine

March 22, 2024

• On March 20th, Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection rejected a proposal to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Cars II. The proposal would have required vehicle manufacturers to sell increasing numbers of electric vehicles, reaching 82 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2032.

December 7, 2024

• The Maine Climate Council released an updated climate plan on November 21st, highlighting progress towards goals identified in its 2020 climate plan, and adding new strategies for the next four years. Highlights of the updated plan include:
  • Establishing new targets for energy efficiency, such as installing an additional 175,000 heat pumps by 2027 (including 40,000 in low-income homes) and weatherizing 35,000 homes by 2030.
  • Setting a goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2040.
  • Putting 150,000 light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids on the road by 2030, as well as increasing public EV charging stations and medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles.
  • Strengthening clean workforce development and community engagement efforts
  • Setting goals to conserve 30 percent of natural and working lands by 2030.
  • Reducing food waste by 50 percent and increasing the amount of food consumed in Maine from in-state producers to 30 percent by 2030.
  • Increasing local capacity for climate resilience, disaster preparation and relief, and storm management.

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Maryland

January 12, 2024

• On December 28th, 2023, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan outlining policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions 60 percent by 2031 and reach net-zero emissions by 2045, as required by the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Key strategies include:
  • Generating 100 percent renewable energy by 2035
  • Offering point-of-sale rebates for electric vehicles (EVs), with extra incentives for low- and moderate-income residents and residents who drive longer distances and have above-average fuel consumption
  • Requiring newly installed heating and cooling systems to be zero-emission, and offering rebates for their installation
  • Reducing vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent, and expanding the state’s EV charging network

• Maryland also became the tenth state to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations on December 15th, requiring an increasing share of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales to be electric.

May 3, 2024

• Maryland’s legislative session adjourned on April 8th, and Governor Wes Moore signed two climate and energy bills into law on April 25th:
  • SB 465 — Prohibits the enforcement of rules that limit or prevent the installation and use of EV charging equipment in housing cooperatives, including charging equipment for electric bicycles.
  • SB 206 — Amends the Maryland Condominium Act (MCA) to allow condominium associations to lease solar panels, energy storage systems, and EV chargers to help meet the state’s clean energy goals.

• The governor has until May 28th to sign, veto, or allow bills to pass without his signature.

May 17, 2024

• Maryland’s legislative session ended on April 8th, and Governor Wes Moore signed the following climate and energy bills into law on May 9th:
  • HB 1256 — The Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification Act, or “DRIVE Act,” creates a first-of-its-kind bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) charging program. The program would require the Public Service Commission to put forward new regulations by May 2025, aimed at allowing EVs to not only draw power from the grid, but also supply electricity back to it. The DRIVE Act also allows for the creation of virtual power plants (VPPs), which aggregate distributed energy resources, such as solar arrays and electric vehicles, to support the grid and act as traditional power plants during peak demand.
  • HB 864 — The “EmPOWER Maryland Reform Bill” aims to align EmPOWER, the state’s energy efficiency program, with the state’s emissions reduction goals. The legislation shifts the program’s goals from reducing electrical use to reducing climate pollution, while maintaining a focus on energy conservation and in-home improvements like weatherization. Electric utilities will need to achieve at least the greenhouse gas emissions reduction equivalent of annual electricity savings of 2 percent in 2024, 2.24 percent in 2025 and 2026, and 2.5 percent for each year after that.
  • SB 258 — Codifies Executive Order 01.01.2023.07, which requires the state to reduce energy consumption in state-owned buildings by 20 percent by 2031, relative to a 2018 baseline.
  • HB 397 — Requires gas utilities serving more than 75,000 customers to develop proposals for network geothermal pilot projects by July 1, 2025. The proposals must ensure that at least 80 percent of the pilot projects’ customers are from low- or moderate-income households.
  • SB 783 — Establishes the Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program for solar systems smaller than 20 kilowatts, and requires developers of solar systems  with capacity greater than one megawatt to pay prevailing wages.

June 14, 2024

• On June 4th, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a sweeping executive order to implement key aspects of the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, the state’s climate plan  that outlines strategies to meet its climate targets set by the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022.
• Executive Order 01.01.2024.19 creates the Governor’s Subcabinet on Climate, which will oversee state agency efforts to implement the climate plan, and submit an annual progress report on implementation of the plan starting December 1st this year. Individual state agencies are also required to submit Climate Implementation Plans on the actions, time, and resources they will need to meet the goals of the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan.
• The order also calls for the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to propose regulations that would establish a zero-emission heating equipment standard and a new clean heat standard to be added to the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. In addition, the Maryland Energy Administration must establish a framework for a clean energy standard to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

November 15, 2024

• The Maryland Energy Administration launched a $10 million Commercial Solar Grant Program to support solar projects that benefit low-income, overburdened, and underserved communities.

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Massachusetts

February 23, 2024

• The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy of Environmental Affairs (EEA) unveiled the state’s first-ever Environmental Justice (EJ) Strategy, which incorporates environmental justice and equity into the work of EEA and its agencies when planning and implementing programs and policies.
• The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) announced sweeping changes to the state’s net metering program that are expected to expand distributed energy generation across the state. Modifications to the program include new eligibility for municipal or state-owned facilities and exemptions from net metering caps for facilities generating between 60 kilowatts (kW) and 2,000 kW (for private facilities) or 10,000 kW (for public facilities), up from only 10 kW previously. Net metering credits are also now able to be transferred between utilities, which could serve as a model for other states.

March 22, 2024

• Massachusetts established a new Office of the Energy Transformation (OET) housed within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. OET will be responsible for the hands-on execution of the clean energy transition, including ensuring the availability and readiness of electrical infrastructure, electric and gas transition coordination, and a just transition for impacted workers and businesses. An Energy Transformation Task Force with industry experts and relevant stakeholders will advise the Office on these issues.

April 5, 2024

• Massachusetts amended state air pollution regulations to address air quality issues in or near environmental justice (EJ) communities. The changes require certain facilities seeking air emissions permits in or near communities with EJ populations to conduct a cumulative impact analysis, which evaluates existing local environmental and health conditions in a community. The regulations also require meaningful involvement with EJ populations in the permitting process. The new regulations are now in force and apply to permit applications filed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on or after July 1, 2024.

May 17, 2024

• On May 16th, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the Massachusetts Climate Careers Fund, which will provide no-interest loans to cover costs for tuition and living expenses for people enrolled in training and workforce programs for climate-related jobs.

July 12, 2024

• Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced a new advisory board to guide the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The Energy Transformation Advisory Board will advise the recently established Office of Energy Transformation, which is responsible for equitably accelerating the state’s gas-to-electric transition and readying the electric grid to meet the state’s climate and clean energy mandates.

August 23, 2024

• As part of the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget, Massachusetts established a new Environmental Justice Trust Fund (Trust) that will support projects that address environmental harms in disadvantaged communities across the Commonwealth. The Trust will be administered by the Office of the Attorney General, and can be used to restore natural resources; investigate, remediate, or mitigate environmental pollution or harms in disadvantaged communities; and improve the health or well-being of disadvantaged communities.

September 20, 2024

• The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved grid modernization plans from electric distribution companies that outline longer-term strategies to modernize the electric grid to handle increased electrification and the deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs). The electric sector modernization plans (ESMPs) include five- and 10-year load forecasts, investments to meet forecasted demand while reducing emissions and boosting resilience, and cost-benefit analyses for the proposed investment.

November 15, 2024

• Massachusetts launched a new program offering an additional incentive for Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers to buy or lease electric vehicles (EVs). The Clean Ride Mass program offers a $6,500 credit for an EV that can be applied in addition to the state-offered MOR-EV rebate and federal tax credit.

December 7, 2024

• Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a climate omnibus bill, S.2967, on November 20th. Among other provisions, the 140-page legislation:
  • Streamlines the state’s siting and permitting processes for large clean energy projects with the Energy Facilities Siting Board overseeing the process, rather than requiring multiple agencies for approval. ​The board will be required to issue or reject a permit within 15 months. For smaller projects, municipalities retain control over the permitting process, but permits must be issued or rejected within 12 months. For both small and large projects, applications will get automatic approval if these deadlines aren’t met.
  • Establishes a new state agency, the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity, to help individuals, community groups, and municipalities participate in the siting and permitting process, as well as an “Intervenor Trust Fund” to help those stakeholders pay for lawyers and independent experts.
  • Requires a cumulative impact analysis for all large renewable and clean energy projects.
  • Allocates $200 million to the state’s Offshore Wind Industry Investment Fund and allows the state to negotiate offshore wind contracts of up to 30 years, instead of 20 years.
  • Increases the state’s energy storage target to 5,000 megawatt-hours by July 31st, 2030.
  • Funds the state’s electric vehicle (EV) rebate program, MOR-EV, through 2027.
  • Directs the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to monitor EV chargers for reliability, public availability, prices and frequency of use. The state must also forecast EV charging demand on major roadways and identify sites for more charging capacity.
  • Allows gas utilities to build networked geothermal projects.
  • Ends the requirement that gas utilities must provide service to any customer that requests it, and allows regulators to consider the impact of emissions when deciding whether to approve requests to expand natural gas service into new communities.
  • Updates the state’s gas system enhancement program (GSEP), which is intended to reduce leaks from the gas system through replacing or repairing pipes, by allowing utilities to retire segments of pipe instead of fixing them.
• A more in-depth summary can be found in a statement from Senate President Spilka.
• Governor Healey also signed an economic development bill into law that includes a $400 million investment in climate tech initiatives and creates a new tax incentive program to support climate tech companies in Massachusetts.

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Michigan

February 23, 2024

• On February 8th, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) issued seven orders related to implementation of new energy-related legislation enacted in late 2023. By collecting public comments and working with relevant stakeholders, the MPSC will determine how to best implement: (1) more stringent energy waste reduction targets for utilities, (2) increased renewable portfolio standard targets, and (3) new long-term energy planning considerations, among other requirements.

July 12, 2024

• Michigan enacted HB 5028 to prohibit homeowners associations (HOAs) in the state from banning rooftop solar and other energy efficiency updates such as heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, and clotheslines. Under the law, homeowners will no longer be required to seek approval from their HOA before installing solar.
• The state’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget also allocates more than $500 million to help implement climate strategies identified in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. The budget included the following investments:
  • $156 million from the federal Solar for All program to support MI Solar for All, a program to lower utility costs and increase access to rooftop and community-serving solar for low-income households
  • $5 million to plug wells and reduce methane emissions
  • $5 million to support Michigan Saves, the state’s green bank
  • $118 million to increase resources for transit and intermodal transportation
  • $30.2 million to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure and $22.3 million to deploy hydrogen stations for heavy duty vehicles
  • $5 million to help low-income households with pre-weatherization and improve the energy efficiency of their homes
  • $5 million to support new waste diversion programs, including circular economy initiatives, composting, and recycling

• A full summary of the budget’s climate and energy investments can be found here.

July 26, 2024

• On July 23rd, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed SB 571 into law, expanding the state’s prevailing wage laws to apply to solar and wind energy projects.

August 9, 2024

• Michigan released its first version of an environmental justice (EJ) screening tool on August 6th, two years after the tool’s draft was released. MiEJScreen allows users to explore the environmental, health, and socioeconomic conditions within a specific community, region, or across the state. The tool combines these datasets into a “MiEJScreen score” that allows comparisons across census tracts.

November 15, 2024

• On November 1st, Michigan launched the Michigan Climate Investment Accelerator (Accelerator) to unlock financing for clean energy projects throughout the state. The Accelerator is composed of two parts:
  • The $11 million Michigan Climate Investment Fund will provide $10 million in matching grants for community lenders and $1 million in technical assistance to help community lenders build capacity to apply for federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) sub-grants.
  • The Michigan Climate Investment Hub is a public-private partnership that will foster cooperation between state agencies, GGRF awardees, businesses, nonprofits, and local governments to facilitate the development of investment-ready projects.

• Under case U-21291, the Michigan Public Service Commission ordered the gas utility DTE Gas to incorporate the state’s emissions and electrification goals into its future “gas delivery plans,” and requires that the utility use MiEJSrcreen, the state’s environmental justice mapping tool, to help identify communities’ needs.

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Minnesota

June 14, 2024

• Minnesota’s legislative session ended on May 20th, and the following climate and energy bills have been signed into law:
  • HF 3911 — Phases out the sale of mercury-containing light bulbs by 2025 in favor of LEDs.
  • SF 4942 — The 2024 Climate and Energy Budget and Policy bill invests nearly $250 million in new funding to address climate change and expand clean energy. The omnibus bill also:
    • Increases the state’s energy savings targets for public electric utilities to 1.5 percent of gross annual retail energy sales, and to one percent for gas utilities.
    • Codifies a definition of “disadvantaged communities” that combines the federal designations of disadvantaged communities with the state’s existing definition of environmental justice areas.
    • Requires the Department of Commerce to develop a study exploring sites suitable for thermal energy networks statewide by January 15, 2026.
    • Requires entities that own more than 750 miles of transmission lines in Minnesota to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of installing grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) to address congestion.
    • Incorporates the Minnesota Infrastructure Permitting Act to expand electric transmission infrastructure and reforming the state’s permitting process for clean energy.
  • HF 5242A — Directs the state to adopt a new residential energy code every three years, beginning in 2026, that must incrementally reduce annual net energy consumption 70 percent by 2038, relative to 2006 energy codes. Additionally, the  Metropolitan Council must develop and periodically update a zero-emission and electric transit vehicle transition plan, which will include recommendations to implement a transition to a fleet with only zero-emission and electric transit vehicles. The plan must also include a bus procurement strategy so that by 2035, all purchases of new transit buses with a capacity of more than 15 passengers must be zero-emission buses.

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New Hampshire

July 26, 2024

• New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed SB 303 into law to modify solar programs provided by the state’s Renewable Energy Fund. The law allocates funding for a new municipal solar program, and ends a rebate program for residential solar and wind installations that was largely ineffective at deploying new solar based on its design.

August 9, 2024

• On August 2nd, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed the following energy bills into law:
  • SB 391 — Requires the Department of Energy to draft regulations that set uniform interconnection procedures for energy projects by October 2025.
  • HB 458 — Reestablishes a commission to study the assessment of power generation assets in New Hampshire and report its findings and recommendations by November 1, 2024.
  • HB 1465 — Directs the Department of Energy to coordinate research on nuclear and wind energy. The bill also renames the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development to the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation.
  • HB 1623 — Requires the Department of Energy to determine how the retirement of uneconomic electric generation facilities would impact the reliability and affordability of energy resources.

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New Jersey

October 18, 2024

• New Jersey launched New Jersey Fleet Advisor, a free technical assistance program that helps medium- and heavy-duty fleets plan for electrification in support of sustainability goals. Each fleet selected to participate will receive a personalized Fleet Electrification Roadmap with vehicle recommendations, cost projections, infrastructure assessments, and detailed information on incentives and funding available to transition fleets to electric vehicles.

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New Mexico

March 22, 2024

• New Mexico’s legislative session adjourned on February 15th, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the following climate and energy bills into law:
  • HB 41 — Establishes a Clean Transportation Fuel Standard, becoming the fourth state to pass a clean fuel standard.
  • HB 91 — Allocates $25 million for grants to cover the planning, exploration, and development costs of geothermal projects. Each project can receive up to $250,000.
  • HB 177 — Creates the “New Mexico Match Fund” and allocates $75 million in state funds for state matching required to secure federal funding.
  • HB 5 — Creates the Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Trust Fund, with $30 million allocated for training and apprenticeship programs.
  • HB 252 — Establishes new tax credits for electric and hybrid vehicles, solar market development, energy storage facilities, geothermal electricity generation, geothermal heat pumps, and advanced energy. More information on tax credit amounts and schedules can be found here.

• The state also became the first to apply for both Home Energy Rebate programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act and will receive its full $87.7 million allocation.

October 4, 2024

• New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order to expand and invest in the state’s climate workforce, establishing a goal of having more than 2,000 workers trained in “climate-ready” professions by 2026. Executive Order 2024-152 directs almost a dozen agencies to jointly create an infrastructure and climate-ready workforce development and training plan, including education programs for residents as young as K-12 students on career opportunities.

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New York

January 12, 2024

• On December 20th, 2023, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a preliminary outline of New York State’s Cap-and-Invest Program and Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program. Following its release, there will be another opportunity for public comment before a full draft rule is released sometime this year.
• DEC also released an updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory through 2021, and announced it is filing draft regulations to reduce emissions of two potent greenhouse gases: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

March 22, 2024

• The nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project off New York’s coast is now complete. The 12-turbine, 132-megawatt project will provide enough power for roughly 70,000 homes.

June 14, 2024

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state is indefinitely pausing its congestion pricing program for New York City. The program, which was scheduled to begin on June 30th, would charge a $15 toll for vehicles driving below 60th Street in Manhattan during peak travel hours, and the revenue would fund capital projects for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subway and commuter rail system. If implemented, the program would be the first congestion pricing program in the country.

June 28, 2024

• The New York State Public Service Commission approved a new framework to build a nation-leading six gigawatts (GW) of energy storage by 2030 — up from a previous target of three GW by 2030.

August 23, 2024

• The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) announced a proceeding to evaluate future grid infrastructure needs from transportation and building electrification. As part of this proceeding, investor-owned utilities are required to develop a coordinated framework to proactively plan for grid upgrades needed to support electrification. The PSC also approved an Energy Affordability Guarantee pilot program for low-income households that electrify their home and water heating through the state’s EmPower+ program.
• On August 13th, Governor Hochul also announced that an additional $200 million is available for zero-emission school bus purchases, charging infrastructure installation, and charging costs. The funding comes from the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act approved by voters in 2022.

November 15, 2024

• On November 14th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to implement congestion pricing in New York City, after the program was paused indefinitely in June. Starting in January 2025, the program will charge a $9 base toll for passenger cars — a 40 percent decrease from the original toll price — entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. The revenue will fund capital projects for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subway and commuter rail system.

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Nevada

August 23, 2024

• On August 8th, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo released Nevada’s Climate Innovation Plan, a new climate plan that focuses on energy production and economic development, and primarily highlights the state’s existing climate policies and strategies.

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North Carolina

August 23, 2024

• North Carolina released a new environmental justice (EJ) mapping tool, called the NC Environmental Justice Hub, which displays information about EJ issues related to climate risks, demographics, environmental harms, transportation, health data, and more.

November 15, 2024

• The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approved Duke Energy’s resource plan, known as the Carolinas Resource Plan, outlining how the utilities will meet the state’s statutory requirements to take “all reasonable steps” to reduce electricity emissions 70 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in the sector by 2050. The latest version of the Carolinas Resource Plan increases the amount of wind, solar, and battery storage Duke has to incorporate into its power grid. However it also allows the utility to build additional natural gas-fired plants and delay the retirement or retrofitting of two old coal-fired power plants, meaning reducing emissions 70 percent below 2005 levels will be delayed until at least 2034.

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Oregon

January 12, 2024

• The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s landmark Climate Protection Program (CPP) rules, which set limits on greenhouse gas emissions from oil and natural gas companies, are invalid due to an administrative error. However, the Department of Environmental Quality said the ruling will not affect its ability to enforce the rules once all rulemaking requirements are fully met.

April 5, 2024

• Oregon’s legislative session adjourned on March 10th, and Governor Tina Kotek signed the following climate and energy bills into law on March 27th:
  • HB 4015 — Permits a person who wants to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) to choose to use the Energy Facility Siting Council for the siting rather than local governments.
  • HB 4080 — Directs state agencies to develop an offshore wind roadmap to identify standards that must be considered in approval processes related to developing an offshore wind project. The bill also 1) specifies certain labor and supply chain workforce standards that must be met by companies involved in the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind projects, and 2) adds a requirement to support engagement between offshore wind developers and impacted communities.
  • SB 1581 — Requires investor-owned utilities to report to the legislature on their activities, including any plans or preparations, toward participating in a regional energy market.

• Several other bills have passed the legislature and are awaiting the Governor’s signature. A summary can be found here.

April 19, 2024

• Oregon’s legislative session wrapped up last month, and Governor Tina Kotek signed the following climate and energy bills into law on April 4th:
  • HB 4083 — Directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to divest state funds from coal.
  • HB 4109 — The transportation omnibus bill establishes the Charge Ahead Zero-Emission Incentive Fund, which modifies the rebate amount for a new electric vehicle to a maximum of $7,500.

• The Governor also signed SB 1530 on April 17, which is a collection of investments in housing programs primarily aimed at addressing homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing, but includes a couple of climate and energy investments. The legislation allocates $15 million to the Healthy Homes Repair Fund, $4 million for the Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program, and $2 million to the Department of Health Services for warming and cooling shelters.

November 1, 2024

• The Oregon Public Utilities Commission ordered the state’s largest gas utility to phase out natural gas subsidies for new customers over the next three years. The order requires Northwest Natural to eliminate its line extension allowance, which is a subsidy that helps connect new customers to the utility and is paid for by existing customers through rates, by November 2027.

December 7, 2024

• On November 21st, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission voted unanimously to reinstate the Climate Protection Program after a court invalidated the original 2021 program over a technicality last year. The program sets a declining cap on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, enforceable through fines and penalties, with goals of reducing covered emissions 50 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2050.

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Pennsylvania

May 3, 2024

• On Earth Day, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled the Pennsylvania Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy (PA PULSE) initiative that will develop 10 new solar arrays in the state. With this announcement, Pennsylvania will become the first state to generate 50 percent of its electricity from solar.

July 26, 2024

• Pennsylvania’s legislative session ended for a summer recess on June 30th, and Governor Josh Shapiro signed the following bills into law on July 17th:
  • HB 1032 — Creates the $25 million Pennsylvania Solar for Schools Grant Program, which will cover the costs of the purchase and installation of solar equipment, permit fees, energy storage, utility interconnection, and other costs approved by the state.
  • SB 656 — Establishes an annual fee on electric vehicles to replace the state’s alternative fuel tax.
• The state’s $47.6 billion budget also provides a one-time boost of $80.5 million to public transit agencies in the state. The legislature will reconvene in September.

December 7, 2024

• Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-04 to launch the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program, which aims to offer a more unified permitting process across state agencies for complex energy, infrastructure, and other economic development projects.

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Rhode Island

July 12, 2024

• On June 26th, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed H 7022A into law, establishing a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) responsible for coordinating resilience efforts across state agencies, municipalities, businesses, and other stakeholders, and implementing resilience policies. The CRO must also develop a coastal resilience plan by October 1st, 2025, as well as conduct an assessment of the climate risks related to sea level rise.

July 26, 2024

• Rhode Island became the first state to complete Phase 1 of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program, which allocates $5 billion for states to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

August 9, 2024

• Rhode Island launched a new rebate program to encourage the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on residential properties. The PowerUpRI initiative will provide rebates up to $700 or 50 percent — whichever is less — to buy and install Level 2 residential EV chargers for properties requiring electrical upgrades, and up to $350 or 50 percent of the infrastructure’s purchase and installation for properties already capable of supporting a charger. For income-qualified applicants, the program will cover up to $500 or 70 percent of associated expenses if electrical upgrades are needed, or up to $1,000 or 75 percent of costs without upgrades. Forty percent of funding is earmarked for low- and moderate-income residents.
• The Governor also signed a law to establish new consumer protections (H7603) around solar energy sales.

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Vermont

June 14, 2024

• Vermont’s legislative session ended on May 9th, and two climate bills have been enacted into law so far.
• Known as the “Climate Superfund Act,” S.259 is a first-of-its-kind law designed to make fossil fuel companies pay for damage from weather disasters fueled by climate change. The damages would be determined based on the degree to which climate change contributed to extreme weather in Vermont, and how much money those weather disasters cost the state. The amount of greenhouse gasses each fossil fuel company has emitted since 1995 would determine their shares of the total damages. Governor Phil Scott allowed the legislation to become law without his signature on May 30th.
• Scott signed the second piece of legislation, the state’s annual transportation bill, on June 3rd. H.868 allocates around $55 million for public transportation, and around $15 million for better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the state. The law also establishes a new annual fee on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to offset a drop in gas tax revenue, however the revenue from this fee will be used for building out electric vehicle charging equipment at business and multifamily housing units. H.868 calls for several state agencies to study the feasibility of joining a regional cap-and-trade program for transportation and to explore “other potential revenue-raising, carbon pollution reduction strategies.”
• The legislature will also reconvene on June 17th to consider overriding Governor Scott’s veto of H.289, a bill to increase the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

June 28, 2024

• On June 17th, the Vermont legislature voted to override Governor Phil Scott’s veto of H.289, which requires all utilities to provide 100 percent renewable electricity. The state’s two largest utilities, Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Coop, have a deadline of 2030, and other, smaller utilities have a 2035 deadline. By 2035, utilities also need to purchase 20 percent of their electricity from small, recently constructed in-state renewable power projects. The legislation also creates a new requirement for utilities to source electricity from regional renewable projects; by 2035, Green Mountain Power must source an additional 20 percent from regional projects, and smaller utilities need to source 10 percent.

July 12, 2024

• Vermont enacted S.253, which creates a 15-member Building Energy Code Working Group to recommend strategies to increase awareness of and compliance with the state’s residential and commercial building energy codes.

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Virginia

May 3, 2024

• Virginia’s legislative session ended in March, and Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the following climate and energy bills into law on April 8th:
  • SB 271 / HB 1062 — Clarifies existing Virginia net-metering laws to remove barriers for residential solar by exempting net metering customers with battery storage devices from standby charges and removing the requirement for net metering customers to purchase additional liability insurance.
  • SB 253 / HB 106 — Expands Virginia’s shared solar program for Dominion’s ratepayers who may not have access to residential solar.
  • SB 255 / HB 108 — Expands Virginia’s shared solar program for Appalachian Power’s ratepayers who may not have access to residential solar.
  • SB 508 — Makes geothermal heating and cooling systems located within the state eligible resources under the state’s renewable portfolio standard.
  • SB 565 / HB 746 — Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish efficiency savings targets for 2026–2028, and that after 2029, energy savings targets must be evaluated for cost-effectiveness.
  • SB 245 / HB 151 — Updates existing statutes related to building standards. Requires that new county, city, town, or school buildings larger than 5,000 square feet include sufficient electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, such as EV chargers, EV-ready electrical capacity, or other fueling infrastructure.
  • HB 862 — Requires electric utilities to include an assessment of the potential application of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors in their integrated resource plans (IRPs), or a detailed explanation of why such technologies or conductors are not included in the IRP.
  • SB 313 / HB 576 — Removes barriers for customers to install residential solar by requiring important disclosures so that all Virginians receive the same information about their solar energy system and about their rights as system owners.
  • SB 461 / HB 309 — Requires the Department of Forestry, in coordination with a Technical Advisory Committee composed of stakeholders, to develop a Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan by November 2026, and update this plan at least once every five years.
  • SB 565 — Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish efficiency savings targets for 2026–2028, sets minimum requirements for serving financially vulnerable households, and will improve cost-effectiveness testing for efficiency programs.

December 7, 2024

• On November 18th, a judge ruled that Virginia can’t withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state initiative designed to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector, without the state legislature’s authorization. The ruling stated the state’s Air Pollution Control Board exceeded its authority when it voted to exit the program last year, which the state initially joined following legislation enacted in 2020.

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Washington

April 5, 2024

• Washington’s legislative session ended on March 7th and Governor Jay Inslee signed a suite of climate and energy bills into law on March 28th:
  • SB 6058 — Facilitates linking Washington’s cap-and-invest program with the cap-and-trade system shared by California and Québec. Linkage between the markets would take place no earlier than 2025.
  • HB 1185 — Phases out mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs by 2029 and extends the stewardship program to safely dispose of these products through 2035.
  • HB 2301 — Creates programs to prioritize food waste prevention, donation, or upcycling over composting or anaerobic digestion, and directs the state’s newly created Center for Sustainable Food Management to administer grants that support organics diversion. The legislation also creates a Washington Commodities Donation grant program, which would support existing infrastructure diverting food to donation.
  • HB 1368 — Creates a Zero-Emission School Bus grant program administered by the Department of Ecology to help schools transition to all-electric school buses. Funding is prioritized for communities most affected by air pollution and for replacing the oldest, most polluting diesel school buses.
  • HB 2131 — Allows the Department of Commerce to distribute grants to gas utilities to study the potential of thermal energy networks.

• A full list of bills Governor Inslee signed this day can be found here.

May 17, 2024

• Washington finalized a new regulation that will reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills on May 13th, becoming  the fourth state to do so. The new rule requires landfill owners and operators to install gas collection and control equipment, energy recovery devices, and/or treatment and processing systems to reduce their methane emissions. It also requires quarterly monitoring of gas collection and control system equipment, and a timeline to ensure any methane leaks are quickly fixed.

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Wisconsin

March 22, 2024

• Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed two bills (SB 791 and SB 792) that will create an electric vehicle (EV) charging network along the state’s interstate system and major highways. The new laws will unlock more than $78 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funds available for Wisconsin over the next five years. SB 791 changes current law to allow businesses to offer EV chargers that sell electricity by the kilowatt hour, which is a requirement for states to receive NEVI funds. SB 792 creates a new EV infrastructure program within the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), enabling the department to receive and administer the NEVI funds.

August 23, 2024

• Wisconsin released a progress report updating its clean energy plan, first released in 2022. The 2024 Clean Energy Plan Progress Report includes goals such as creating 40,000 clean energy-related jobs by 2030, setting a target for all electricity in the state to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2050, ensuring the state meets carbon reduction goals in the Paris Agreement, and reducing the disproportionate impact of energy generation on low-income people and communities of color.

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U.S. Climate Alliance

October 4, 2024

• On September 23rd, the U.S. Climate Alliance launched the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, a workforce development initiative that aims to collectively train one million new registered apprentices by 2035 across its 24 member states and territories. The first three cohorts will focus on careers in: (1) clean energy, fuels, and technologies; (2) clean buildings and industry; and (3) resilient communities and lands. The Initiative’s goals include boosting job quality, expanding opportunities for workers from underrepresented and underserved communities, and strengthening workers’ economic mobility.

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Ballot Initiatives

November 15, 2024

• On November 5th, voters overwhelmingly approved climate ballot initiatives for six state-level climate and conservation proposals and rejected one anti-climate proposal:
  • California’s Proposition 4 – Voters authorized $10 billion in bonds to spend on environmental and climate projects.
  • Colorado’s Proposition JJ – Voters removed the cap for water funding from an existing tax on sports gaming revenue, which will generate an additional $2 to $5 million annually.
  • Louisiana’s CA No. 1 – Voters approved a ballot measure to set aside revenue from offshore wind development for coastal projects, such as barrier island restoration and wetlands rebuilding.
  • Maine’s Question 4 – Voters approved a $30 million bond that will fund a four-year grant program aimed at enhancing and expanding the state’s trail networks.
  • Minnesota’s Amendment 1 – Voters renewed $2 billion in state lottery funding for environmental and natural resources projects.
  • Rhode Island’s Question 4 – Voters approved a $53 million green economy bond bill, which includes $15 million to help develop the Port of Davisville into an offshore wind hub.
  • Washington’s Initiative Measure No. 2117 – Voters rejected a ballot measure that would have repealed the state’s cap-and-invest program established in 2021.

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Federal Funding

January 12, 2024

• On December 15th, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) announced that 14 states will receive $350 million in grant funding to measure and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector through the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
• The DOE announced up to $530 million in technical assistance competitive grants available for the adoption and implementation of the latest model energy codes, zero energy codes, building performance standards, and innovative energy codes. The Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes funding opportunity is open to states, territories and units of local government that have the authority to adopt building codes. Concept papers are due February 9th, 2024 and applications are due April 30th, 2024.
• The DOE also opened applications for the Energy Auditor Training (EAT) program, which will provide up to $40 million in grants for states to train individuals to conduct energy audits or surveys of commercial and residential buildings. Concept papers are due March 28th, 2024 and applications are due June 28th, 2024.

February 23, 2024

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) opened applications for Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants for fiscal year 2024. States, territories, and tribal governments are eligible to apply for a total of $562 million to help modernize the electric grid, increasing resilience to extreme weather events. Applications are due April 17, 2024.

March 8, 2024

• The DOE also announced it is making $90 million available to help states and localities adopt and implement building energy codes. This is the second installment of the $225 million Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Concept papers for the newest round of funding are due April 5th and full applications are due June 6th. The DOE anticipates that it will distribute between 20 and 40 awards worth between $500,000 and $10 million each.
• The first deliverable of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program, called Priority Climate Actions Plans (PCAPs), for states and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were due on March 1st. Implementation Grant applications, which will award approximately $4.6 billion to implement PCAP measures, are due April 1st for states and MSAs.

April 5, 2024

• The Department of Energy (DOE) opened the $40 million Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program on March 29th. The TREC program aims to “reduce the cost of training, testing, and certifying residential energy efficiency and electrification contractors.” The program awards funds for states to train small contractors and implement workforce development programs related to residential clean energy and energy efficiency. Letters of intent are due May 9, 2024, and full applications are due July 12, 2024.

May 3, 2024

• The EPA opened applications for $932 million in competitive grants under the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grants program to replace Class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission Class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles. States, municipalities, Tribes, school districts, and nonprofit school transportation associations are eligible to apply, and applications are due July 25, 2024.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $148 million in grants for 11 states and Puerto Rico to invest in port electrification and efficiency improvements. This is the first round of funding awarded under the $400 million Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

June 28, 2024

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced applications are open for the $850 million Methane Emissions Reduction Program. Funding will be awarded to projects that monitor, measure, and reduce emissions from oil and gas infrastructure. Eligible entities include state and local governments, tribal nations, institutions of higher education, and for- and non-profit organizations. Applications are due August 26, 2024.

July 26, 2024

• On July 22nd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected 25 states, municipalities and coalitions to receive $4.3 billion to implement strategies that reduce climate pollution. As part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program (CPRG), the CPRG Implementation Grants will fund state, local, and Tribal entities located in 30 states and span six sectors.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded about $371 million to 20 projects spanning 16 states that will accelerate the permitting of high-voltage, interstate transmission projects and support community infrastructure projects along transmission lines. The Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program includes grants for siting and permitting activities and grants for economic development activities.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced $153 million in funding to be made available via the Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grant Program. Grant funding will support the initiation, restoration, or enhancement of intercity passenger rail transportation. Eligible applicants include states, state agencies and subdivisions, Interstate Compacts, and Amtrak, and applications are due September 30th, 2024.

August 9, 2024

• In the second round of projects funded under the $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $2.2 billion in grants for eight projects across 18 states to expand and upgrade power transmission.
• The DOE also announced $63 million is available to advance battery recycling and smart manufacturing under the Smart Manufacturing and Recycling Tactics for States (SMART) program. States can use this funding to establish or enhance programs for battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing for electric vehicles, or  programs that assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers in accessing and implementing smart manufacturing technologies. State and local governments are eligible to apply, with applications due September 16th, 2024.

August 23, 2024

• On August 16th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $27 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) grants to finance clean energy and climate projects across the country. Funding recipients for the three GGRF programs — the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF), the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), and the $7 billion Solar for All program — were first announced in April, and funding is now accessible to recipients.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $50 million to support six states in converting internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturing facilities into those that produce electric vehicles (EVs) and related components. The following states will receive funding:
  • Michigan: $18.4 million
  • Ohio: $9.4 million
  • Indiana: $8.8 million
  • Kentucky: $4.9 million
  • Tennessee: $4.5 million
  • Illinois: $4.1 million

• The DOE opened applications for $530 million in funding through the Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes program for state and local governments to adopt building energy codes. Applications are due September 13, 2024.
• The DOE also opened applications for the Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement and Innovation Grants competition. The $36 million in funding will expand the DOE’s residential weatherization programs by leveraging resources and community partnerships to perform deep energy retrofits of low-income residential buildings. Eligible applicants are state, local, and Tribal governments and non-profit organizations. Applications are due September 27th, 2024.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened the latest round of funding under the Composting and Food Waste Reduction program for cooperative agreements of local and Tribal governments to develop innovative and scalable food waste management plans. Applications are due September 4th, 2024, and eligible entities include state, local, and Tribal governments, public housing authorities, and independent school districts.

September 20, 2024

• On August 27th, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded 19 state and local jurisdictions $242 million to adopt and implement new and “innovative” building codes that increase energy efficiency. Of the state awardees, Hawaiʻi and Minnesota will develop new, statewide building performance standards (BPSs), and Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington State will offer technical assistance to support implementation and compliance with state and city-level BPSs.
• The DOE also awarded $90 million to help states, local governments, Tribes, and partner organizations adopt and implement updated building energy codes. Funding 25 projects, this is the second installment of the $225 million Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
• The EPA opened applications for $39 million to decrease food waste through the Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program. The funding will support projects that decrease household food waste, expand markets for and boost sales of compost, and increase public awareness of food waste composting programs. Eligible applicants are state, local, and Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and non-profit organizations. Applications are due December 20th, 2024.
• On September 5th, President Biden announced $7.3 billion in clean energy financing for 16 rural electric cooperatives (co-ops) spanning 23 states through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. The funding will support 10 gigawatts of clean energy projects and build 1,892 megawatt hours of battery storage.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) opened applications for $800 million in funding via the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants program. The funding will support the use of low-carbon materials and products in transportation projects — such as steel, concrete and cement, glass, and asphalt — and will provide resources for agencies to implement processes and coordinate with industry to quantify the emissions of construction materials. FHWA made $1.2 billion available under this program to state departments of transportation in March 2024 and has now opened funding up to other applicants such as federal, state, and Tribal agencies that also carry out transportation activities. Applications are due November 25, 2024.
• The DOT also awarded $521 million in grants to build out electric vehicle charging infrastructure across 29 states, eight Tribes, and the District of Columbia. The funding comes through the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant program and a 10 percent set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program.

October 4, 2024

• On October 3rd, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) announced an investment of $1.5 billion in four transmission projects spanning seven states through the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP).
• The DOE also released the final National Transmission Planning (NTP) Study, a set of long-term planning tools and analyses that examine future scenarios through 2050 to identify pathways to maintain grid reliability, increase resilience, and reduce costs. The study found the U.S. will need to double or triple the country’s 2020 transmission capacity by 2050 in order to meet demand growth and reliability needs.

October 18, 2024

• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) opened applications for more than $1 billion in funding to expand and modernize intercity passenger rail nationwide through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program. Projects that expand or establish new intercity passenger and high-speed rail service, improve the performance of existing service, and/or replace or rehabilitate rail infrastructure are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include a state or group of states, Tribal governments, a political subdivision of a state, a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by a state, and Amtrak, and applications are due December 16th, 2024.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) opened applications for $400 million in funding to help rural and remote communities implement clean energy projects through the  Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program. Eligible applicants include state, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, rural electric cooperatives, institutions of higher education, farming associations, and labor unions. Concept papers are due February 27th, 2025, with full applications due on August 28th, 2025.
• The DOE is accepting applications for the latest round of funding through the $550 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, which is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. Applications from state and local governments are due October 31st, 2024.

November 1, 2024

• On October 18th, the U.S. Department of Energy announced nearly $2 billion in grants to expand, and modernize and increase the resiliency of the U.S. power grid. The latest round of funding through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program will go to 32 projects in 42 states and D.C. to support 7.5 gigawatts of additional grid capacity. The awards include transmission projects, wildfire mitigation, and efforts to deploy grid-enhancing technologies (GETs).

December 7, 2024

• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $1.2 billion to 37 state departments of transportation, as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico, under the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grant Program. The grants will enable DOTs to study, track, and purchase American-made low carbon construction materials and products, including asphalt, glass, steel, and concrete, for use in transportation projects. State DOTs can establish new processes to implement and use low-carbon materials on Federal-aid construction projects.
• The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Deployment Office announced $10 million available to accelerate transmission deployment via the Transmission Acceleration Grants (TAG) Program. This program will support capacity building and local and regional transmission planning or siting and permitting process reforms. Applications are due January 21st, 2025. Eligible entities include state and Tribal governments, regional transmission planning organizations, regional-state committees, and non-profit organizations.

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Federal Updates

January 31, 2024

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule to impose fees on oil and gas methane emissions, as required by the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Methane Emissions Reduction Program. The Waste Emissions Charge would charge producers who release at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, putting an initial price at $900 per ton in 2024 and hiking the fee to $1,500 per ton in 2026.
• Twenty states were awarded nearly $150 million in grants to repair or replace 4,500 existing EV charging ports, funded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
• The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program allocated $623 million in grants to 22 states and Puerto Rico to build out an EV charging network in the U.S. These grants will cover the construction of around 7,500 charging ports.
• A lawsuit by 21 states led the federal government to postpone a February 1st deadline for submitting plans on reducing greenhouse gas emissions under a new Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule. The FHWA delayed the deadline for states to comply with the upcoming regulation and submit their initial plans until March 17th.

March 8, 2024

• On March 6th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to adopt a regulation that requires publicly traded companies to disclose climate risk information to their investors. The historic vote creates a major new mandate for public companies to reveal emissions and business risks due to climate change. A notable difference from the draft regulation first released in 2022 is the exclusion of Scope 3 emissions, which encompass all indirect emissions from a company’s supply chain and the consumption of its products by customers — the majority of a company’s emissions. Despite the weaker requirements, ten states have sued to challenge the rules SEC following Wednesday’s vote.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $366 million for the development of renewable energy projects across the rural U.S., funding 17 projects as part of the DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program. These projects span across 20 states and 30 Tribal Nations.

March 22, 2024

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final emissions standards for light-duty vehicles on March 20th. The final rule requires EVs to make up 67 percent of all new passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks by 2032, but would allow car companies to comply if their 2032 fleet includes 56 percent EVs and 13 percent plug-in hybrids. These standards will phase in over model years 2027 through 2032.
• The EPA also issued final methane rules on March 7th that aim to limit methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The new rules ban routine flaring, require oil companies to monitor for leaks from well sites and compressor stations, and establish a program to use third-party satellite monitoring to detect large methane releases from so-called “super emitters” across the country.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the projects selected for the Clean Energy Demonstration Program on Current and Former Mine Land (CEML). The DOE will provide up to $475 million for clean energy projects on current and former mine lands in five states: Arizona, Kentucky, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

April 5, 2024

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final emissions standards for eight classes of heavy-duty vehicles on March 29th. The new rule for trucks is more complex than the standards for light-duty vehicles announced a week prior, and the required share of electric vehicles depends on the class and type of vehicle. Manufacturers can use a variety of technologies to meet these requirements and reduce emissions in their fleets, including electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cells. The standards will phase in over model years 2027 through 2032.
• On April 4th, the EPA also announced the recipients of $20 billion in clean energy financing for low-income and disadvantaged communities. The funds come from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which acts as a national green bank established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The eight recipients will redistribute funds in the form of grants, low interest loans, or through other mechanisms. The funding announced is split into two GGRF funds:

1. A $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund to establish national clean financing institutions that deliver accessible, affordable financing for clean technology projects nationwide and adhere to Justice40 requirements.
2. A $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator to provide funding and technical assistance to community lenders specifically working in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

• The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a final rule to cut the amount of methane released from oil and gas operations on federal and tribal lands.  The rule will require drillers to submit plans to track and fix methane leaks in their operations and develop plans to eliminate methane pollution from leaks, venting, and flaring. It will also charge royalties on the methane gas released into the atmosphere.
• A federal court struck down a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule that requires states and cities to set climate targets for transportation and sets up a national framework for measuring and reporting transportation-related emissions. After this decision, the FHWA is now reviewing the decision and figuring out next steps for this rule.

April 19, 2024

• On April 4th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it is voluntarily delaying the implementation of climate disclosure regulations adopted last month. The pause comes as the rule faces legal challenges and is intended to avoid regulatory uncertainty for companies that might have been subject to the rule while litigation against it proceeds.

May 3, 2024

• The Biden Administration announced several key initiatives on Earth Day this year, including grant recipients of the historic $7 billion Solar for All program to deploy solar in low-income and disadvantaged communities. As part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, this funding will create new or expand existing low-income solar programs, provide financial assistance for rooftop and community solar projects, and offer technical assistance to increase workforce development activities. The selected applications include 49 state-level awards, six awards to Tribes, and five innovative multi-state awards.
• This announcement also included the first set of jobs under the American Climate Corps program, along with a new ClimateCorps.gov website to find and apply for these jobs. Vermont, New Mexico, and Illinois also announced they are launching new state-based climate corps programs, building on 10 states that launched programs last year.
• On April 25th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized four new rules that will impose tougher standards on greenhouse gas and mercury emissions from power plants, wastewater discharged from those facilities, and the storage and management of coal ash. According to the EPA, the suite of rules includes:
  • A final rule that would ensure that beginning in 2032, all coal-fired plants that plan to operate past 2039, and new gas-fired plants that operate more than 40 percent of the time, cut 90 percent of their carbon pollution. This is the first federal mandate to cut carbon dioxide from power plants.
  • A final rule strengthening and updating the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal-fired power plants, tightening the emissions standard for toxic metals by 67 percent and finalizing a 70 percent reduction in the emissions standard for mercury from existing lignite-fired sources.
  • A final rule to reduce pollutants discharged through wastewater from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds per year, ensuring cleaner water for affected communities, including communities with environmental justice concerns that are disproportionately impacted.
  • A final rule that will require the safe management of coal ash that is placed in areas that were unregulated at the federal level until now, including at previously used disposal areas that may leak and contaminate groundwater.

• The White House announced a finalized transmission permitting reform rule to establish the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits (CITAP) Program, which aims to significantly improve and accelerate federal environmental reviews and permitting processes for qualifying transmission projects under a standard two-year process.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finalized new energy efficiency standards for several types of residential water heaters on April 30th. The new rule, which goes into effect in 2029, increases efficiency requirements for gas-fired, oil-fired and larger electric storage water heaters.

May 17, 2024

• On May 13th, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted 2-1 in favor of a long-awaited transmission planning and cost allocation reform rule. First proposed in 2022, Order No. 1920 requires transmission operators to conduct and periodically update long-term regional transmission planning over a 20-year time period to anticipate future needs. This planning process will consider various factors (including utility resource plans, state climate and energy goals, and interconnection queues) that will impact transmission needs, energy demand, and the grid’s mix of energy resources. Transmission operators must also consider seven economic and reliability benefits when considering regional transmission projects to determine whether any identified proposals will efficiently and cost-effectively address long-term transmission needs.
• Regional grid operators will have 12 months to craft plans in compliance with the rule, subject to FERC approval or rejection. A fact sheet summarizing FERC’s rule can be found here.
• In other transmission news, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced ten preliminary designations for National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC). If finalized, NEITC status unlocks federal financing for transmission projects, including through the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Transmission Facility Financing Program.
• As part of the IRA’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized revisions to its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program regulations for the oil and gas sector on May 6th. The changes strengthen, expand, and update methane emissions reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems.

May 31, 2024

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an initiative with 21 states to expand the use of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors, and increase state and federal cooperation on transmission planning. Through the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, states have committed to considering the technologies in grid planning and offering utilities financial incentives to use them.

June 14, 2024

• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued new vehicle fuel economy standards on June 7th. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards increase fuel economy:
  • Two percent per year for passenger cars for model years 2027-2031
  • Two percent per year for light trucks for model years 2029-2031
  • Ten percent per year for heavy-duty pickup truck and van fuel efficiency for model years 2030-2032 and eight percent per year for model years 2033-2035.

June 28, 2024

• On June 27th, the Supreme Court paused the EPA’s “good neighbor” rule while states challenge the rule in court. The rule sets stringent new emissions requirements on power plants and pipelines in parts of the country to stem ozone pollution that wanders into downwind states.

July 12, 2024

• On June 28th, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Chevron doctrine in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. Established in a 1984 Supreme Court decision, the Chevron doctrine allowed federal agencies to interpret laws that are unclear, as long as the interpretation is deemed reasonable. The decision is expected to result in legal challenges of federal rules on air and water pollution from power plants, oil and gas production, industrial activities, and cars and trucks, and could lead to states taking a more expansive regulatory role.

September 20, 2024

• On September 5th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its public engagement policy for the first time since 2003. The new policy outlines how the agency can design processes that provide meaningful public participation opportunities in all of its programs and regions.

October 4, 2024

• During Climate Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AmeriCorps announced the launch of an Environmental Justice Climate Corps program. As part of the American Climate Corps President Biden established last year, the new program which will employ providing technical assistance to community-based organizations in environmental justice communities across the country.
• The EPA also issued a final rule to better manage, recycle, and reuse hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. The rule establishes the Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) program, and imposes new requirements for repairing leaking equipment, installing automatic leak detection systems, using reclaimed HFCs to service existing equipment, and minimizing HFC releases from certain equipment.

November 15, 2024

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule to levy a fee on excess methane emissions from oil and gas facilities. A provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Waste Emissions Charge is intended to encourage early deployment of available technologies to reduce methane emissions and other harmful air pollutants. The fee would apply to large emitters of methane if their emissions exceed 25,000 metric tons annually, with excess emissions in 2024 resulting in a fee of $900 per ton, rising to $1,200 per ton in 2025 and $1,500 per ton by 2026.

December 7, 2024

• On November 21st, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved changes to its regional transmission planning policies by boosting the role states will play in planning power grid expansions. FERC Order 1920, adopted in May, requires (1) regional grid operators to plan for the transmission needed to meet expected electricity demand 20 years into the future, and (2) grid operators and states to determine the allocation of costs for building long-distance transmission lines. The recent changes ensure that states are given more data on costs and are more involved in the planning process to build out different scenarios for transmission development.

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Multi-State

February 9, 2024

• Nine states signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that sets a goal to have 65 percent of all new residential HVAC and hot water heating systems use electric heat pumps by 2030, and 90 percent of all new systems by 2040. The MOU has been signed by California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island. These states will collaborate to collect market data, track progress, and develop an action plan for widespread residential building electrification.

July 12, 2024

• Ten Northeast states announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a framework to improve interregional transmission planning and development. Through the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission (“Collaborative”), states agreed to share technical data, solicitation guidance, regulatory updates, project status reports, and more related to transmission infrastructure. The Collaborative will also produce a strategic action plan for promoting the development of transmission projects for offshore wind.
• The MOU was signed by Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.