Our Mission
Spurring markets for clean energy solutions
Our strategy aims to support clean energy advocates, achieve significant legislative wins, and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.
We promote policies that drive innovation and reduce carbon emissions
We deliver results by empowering local advocates, executing accountability campaigns, and building bipartisan policymaker support to influence energy policy in the U.S.
Support Public Policy
We support organizations in venues across the country with the ability to get energy policies across the finish line.
Foster Accountability
We advance robust accountability strategies that keep policymakers on target and working in the public’s best interest.
Empower Local Voices
We work with a network of campaign experts across the political spectrum who understand what it takes to win in state capitols.
Engage Decision-Makers
We know that strong policy is made when lawmakers have access to sound analysis and input from their communities.
Energy Action Fund concentrates its resources with powerful voices for clean energy in venues across the U.S.
We invest in venues with opportunities to achieve clean energy victories across all levels of government.
City
In local communities, clean energy and climate laws reduce the health impacts of air and water pollution on the most vulnerable populations.
State
Smart state legislative strategies disrupt politics-as-usual to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.
Federal
State wins cut emissions, grow markets, and allow new technologies to scale, building momentum for federal action.
Explore the Highlights
We know where and when clean energy ideas can break through the opposition to become laws.
Energy Transition Act
New Mexico adopts one of the country’s most ambitious clean energy goals.
Energy Transition Act
In March 2019, the New Mexico Legislature passed the Energy Transition Act (ETA), a landmark policy that establishes the state as a national clean energy leader. In addition to scaling up clean energy commitments, the legislation empowers regulators to use new finance tools that provide a pathway for a low-carbon transition away from coal as well as workforce training and transition assistance for affected communities. Local advocates supported newly-elected Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s resolve to follow through early on her commitments to address climate change and encouraged legislators to codify the state’s commitments.
Energy Freedom Act
South Carolina embraces energy innovation.
Energy Freedom Act
South Carolina’s Republican Governor Henry McMaster signed the Energy Freedom Act (EFA) in May 2019, to expand renewable energy markets and set the stage for significant transformation of the state’s electric sector following the bill’s unanimous passage in both the house and senate. EFA will catalyze 1,000 megawatts (MW) of utility scale solar and an additional 200 MW of rooftop solar in two years, accelerating additional coal and gas retirements. The combined impact of EFA’s reforms makes South Carolina both a nationally significant laboratory for testing competitive energy solutions and another example of a conservative state advancing a meaningful clean energy policy.
Much of this success in South Carolina is the result of the strength and diversity of the coalition that educated the public and decision-makers on clean energy benefits to the state. Policy advocacy came from solar, conservation, center-right, environmental, and business leaders.
Silver State Goes Clean
Nevada’s governor commits to a zero carbon emissions goal by 2050.
Silver State Goes Clean
In April 2019, the Nevada legislature passed and Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill to increase the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 50 percent by 2030, while also setting a goal of zero carbon emissions from electricity sources by 2050. The bill will drive 3.85 gigawatts of utility-scale solar development—enough to power 800,000 Nevada homes for a year. It passed the Senate and Assembly with unanimous support, signaling an emerging bipartisan consensus for clean energy in the state. Mirroring the language of a 2018 ballot measure to raise the RPS, which passed by almost 60 percent, this new RPS will include rural electric co-ops, other public power districts, and the companies that have filed to leave utility NV Energy’s electric service—notably, several of the state’s casinos.
Clean Energy Jobs Act
In 2019, Maryland’s Republican governor sets historic goal to ramp-up clean energy job creation in the state.
Clean Energy Jobs Act
In 2019, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan became the first Republican governor to set a goal for his state to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2040 while also allowing the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), which passed by a veto-proof majority in both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly, to become law. CEJA doubles the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) from 25 percent by 2020 to 50 percent by 2030, making Maryland the ninth state to commit to at least 50 percent clean energy by 2030. The bill also includes the most ambitious solar carve-out in an RPS nationwide: 14.5 percent for in-state solar.
CEJA is expected to stimulate a statewide resurgence of manufacturing and construction jobs due to the solar carve-out, as well as 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind development and $8 million for workforce development programs. The solar increase more than doubles Maryland’s previous solar goal and will significantly help support and retain the nearly 20,000 jobs in the state’s solar industry. Additionally, increasing the RPS to 50 percent is estimated to reduce 8.1 million metric tons of carbon, the equivalent of taking 1.7 million cars off the road each year.
Colorado Passes Energy Package
Colorado sets ambitious climate goals through electric vehicle incentives and utility requirements, among other measures.
Colorado Passes Energy Package
The Colorado Legislature passed—and Governor Jared Polis signed—the landmark Climate Action Plan in May, which sets economy-wide goals to reduce carbon emissions in the state by at least 25 percent by 2026, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.
The Legislature also passed bills that: with bipartisan support, incentivize electric utilities to build charging ports and other infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs); a extend existing income tax credits for the purchase or lease of an electric motor vehicle; create a Just Transition Office in the state’s Department of Labor and Employment and a fund to support workers in transition; a bill that directs the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to account for the social cost of carbon, orders utilities to conduct distribution planning, directs Tri-State Generation and Transmission to submit an electric resource plan to PUC for approval, and directs Xcel Energy to submit a plan to the PUC to reach carbon reduction goals of 80 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.