Clean Energy Targets Are Trending
To meet its climate goals and bring emissions down to net-zero by 2050, the US needs to shift to carbon-free power as fast as possible. While federal efforts to clean up the grid have stalled, Third Way analysis shows that states, major cities, and utilities have literally doubled-down on policies and targets to get the job done. We took the data and created an interactive dashboard to help spot important trends that could be expanded across the country. Two essential themes stood out to us:
- Clean energy commitments are rapidly gaining popularity. Our research identified a total of 153 portfolio standards and other commitments to clean energy since 1983. But a whopping 67% of them were adopted just since 2016.
- Climate leaders want more technology options to choose from. Prior to 2016, 90% of commitments were exclusive to renewable energy. That trend has almost completely reversed since then, with 73% of states, utilities, and major cities now embracing “technology-inclusive” commitments like clean energy standards that take advantage of nuclear power, carbon capture, and other carbon-free options.
It makes sense that these trends are catching on. Communities across America are increasingly feeling the impacts of climate change and demanding rapid action. At the same time, governments and utilities are becoming keenly aware of the challenges of getting to zero emissions in a few short decades using only renewable power. Incorporating additional tools like nuclear and carbon capture brings us closer to full decarbonization and significantly reduces the cost of getting there.
Play around with the dashboard below and see what other patterns jump out at you. If you’ve got a hot take, we’ve also included shareable versions of each graphic below the dashboard that you can send to your social media networks.
Methodology
This interactive dashboard displays decarbonization and clean or renewable energy targets, announcements, and policies enacted by states, cities, and utilities.
- States: We included all state renewable portfolio standards and clean energy standards and renewable and clean energy targets. We only included updates to existing policies if they increased the overall stringency of the policy. We did not include zero emission credit policies for existing nuclear, credits or subsidies for other clean energy technologies, or carbon pricing policies.
- Cities: We included all cities that are among the 50 most populous and that have city-wide decarbonization or clean or renewable energy goals. We excluded cities that only had goals to decarbonize city-owned buildings. We only included the most recent goal for each city.
- Utilities: We included all utilities that have official statements or commitments to decarbonize or increase their share of clean or renewable energy. We only included updates to existing policies if they increased the overall stringency of the policy.
The types of commitments have been divided into technology-inclusive or renewables-only categories. Technology-inclusive means that the commitment is open to all clean energy or zero carbon technologies. Renewables-only means that the commitment is only open to the select renewable resources defined by each state, city, or utility.
The types of commitments have also been divided into non-binding targets or binding commitments. Non-binding targets are aspirational goals, targets, pledges, or executive orders. Binding commitments are policies signed into law.
When unable to find the exact day that a commitment was made, we entered the first of that month.
For both maps, the color of a state is determined by its most ambitious and recent state level commitment — yellow for renewable-only and teal for technology-inclusive. To create the second map, we used the utility shapefiles from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data: Electric Retail Service Territories. The color of the utilities does not specify whether a utility is technology-inclusive or not.
Our research drew from Clean Air Task Force’s state and utility targets fact sheet, National Resources Defense Council’s blog on utilities, Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Commitments, Center For Climate and Energy Solutions’ U.S. State Electricity Portfolio Standards Map, National Conference of State Legislatures’ State Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals, North Carolina State University’s Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, and Smart Electric Power Alliance’s Carbon Reduction Tracker.
The sources for each commitment can be found below.
| Classification | City, State, or Utility | Commitment | Type of Commitment | Date | Technology-Inclusive? | Source |
| City | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
100% renewables by 2022 |
Non-Binding Target |
November 21, 2018 |
No |
|
|
Atlanta, Georgia |
100% renewables by 2035 |
Non-Binding Target |
May 1, 2017 |
No |
||
| Austin, Texas |
65% renewables by 2027 |
Non-Binding Target |
August 17, 2017 |
No | Link | |
|
Boston, Massachusetts |
100% carbon neutral by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
December 3, 2017 |
Yes | Link | |
| Chicago, Illinois |
100% renewables by 2035 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 10, 2019 |
No | Link | |
| Columbus, Ohio | 100% clean energy by 2022 | Non-Binding Target | November 3, 2020 | Yes |
|
|
| Denver, Colorado |
100% renewables by 2030 and 80% carbon free economy-wide by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
July 17, 2018 |
No | Link | |
| Houston, Texas | 100% carbon neutral by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | April 22, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | 100% carbon neutral by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | September 13, 2017 | Yes | Link | |
| Los Angeles, California |
100% renewables by 2045 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 29, 2019 |
No | Link | |
| Louisville, Kentucky | 100% renewables by 2040 | Non-Binding Target | February 6, 2020 | No | Link | |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota |
100% renewables by 2030 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 27, 2018 |
No | Link | |
| New York City, New York |
100% carbon neutral by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 22, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 100% renewables by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | September 19, 2019 | No | Link | |
| Phoenix, Arizona |
100% carbon neutral by 2060 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 12, 2016 |
Yes | Link | |
| Portland, Oregon |
100% renewable energy economy-wide by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
June 1, 2017 |
No | Link | |
| San Diego, California |
100% renewables by 2035 |
Non-Binding Target |
December 15, 2015 |
No | Link | |
| San Francisco, California |
100% renewables by 2030 |
Non-Binding Target |
December 1, 2010 |
No | Link | |
| San Jose, California |
100% renewables by 2022 |
Non-Binding Target |
October 7, 2007 |
No | Link | |
| Seattle, Washington |
100% carbon neutral by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
June 17, 2013 |
Yes | Link | |
| St. Louis, Missouri |
80% carbon reduction by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 17, 2017 |
Yes | Link | |
| State | Arizona | 100% clean energy by 2050 | Binding Standard | October 29, 2020 | Yes | Link |
|
15% renewables by 2025 |
Binding Standard |
November 14, 2006 |
No | Link | ||
| California |
100% clean electricity by 2045 |
Binding Standard |
September 10, 2018 |
Yes | Link | |
|
50% renewables by 2030 |
Binding Standard |
October 7, 2015 |
No | Link | ||
|
20% renewables by 2017 |
Binding Standard |
September 12, 2002 |
No | Link | ||
| Colorado |
100% renewables by 2040 |
Non-Binding Target |
May 30, 2019 |
No | Link | |
|
30% renewables by 2020 from investor-owned utilities |
Binding Standard |
March 22, 2010 |
No | Link | ||
|
10% renewables by 2015 from state's largest utilities |
Binding Standard |
November 1, 2004 |
No | Link | ||
| Connecticut |
100% carbon free by 2040 |
Non-Binding Target |
September 4, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
48% renewables by 2030 |
Binding Standard |
May 9, 2018 |
No | Link | ||
|
24% renewables by 2020 |
Binding Standard |
April 29, 1998 |
No | Link | ||
| District of Columbia |
100% renewables by 2032 |
Binding Standard |
January 18, 2019 |
No | Link | |
| Hawaii |
100% renewables by 2045 |
Binding Standard |
June 8, 2015 |
No | Link | |
|
40% renewables by 2030 |
Binding Standard |
June 1, 2009 |
No | Link | ||
|
20% renewables by 2020 |
Binding Standard |
June 1, 2004 |
No | Link | ||
|
9% renewables by 2010 |
Non-Binding Target |
June 29, 2001 |
No | Link | ||
| Illinois |
25% renewables by compliance year 2025-2026 from large investor-owned utilities |
Binding Standard |
August 1, 2007 |
No | Link | |
| Indiana |
10% clean energy by 2025 |
Non-Binding Target |
May 1, 2011 |
Yes | Link | |
| Iowa |
Voluntary goal of 1,000 MW of wind generating capacity by 2010 |
Non-Binding Target |
September 1, 2001 |
No | Link | |
|
Investor owned utilities must own or contract 105 MW of renewable generating capacity |
Binding Standard |
January 1, 1983 |
No | Link | ||
| Maine |
100% renewables by 2050 |
Binding Standard |
June 18, 2019 |
No | Link | |
|
40% renewables by 2017 |
Binding Standard |
September 1, 1999 |
No | Link | ||
| Maryland |
100% clean electricity by 2040 |
Non-Binding Target |
May 22, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
50% renewables by 2030 |
Binding Standard |
May 22, 2019 |
No | Link | ||
|
25% renewables by 2020 |
Binding Standard |
February 1, 2017 |
No | Link | ||
|
20% renewables by 2022 |
Binding Standard |
April 1, 2008 |
No | Link | ||
|
9.5% renewables by 2018 |
Binding Standard |
May 26, 2004 |
No | Link | ||
| Massachusetts |
Raises RPS growth to 2% annually from 2020 to 2029 and 1% thereafter, increasing the Class I obligation from 25% to 35% in 2030 |
Binding Standard |
August 9, 2018 |
No | Link | |
|
80% clean energy by 2050 |
Binding Standard |
August 11, 2017 |
Yes | Link | ||
|
5% alternative portfolio standard by 2020 |
Binding Standard |
July 1, 2008 |
No | Link | ||
|
15% renewables by 2020, increasing 1% annually after |
Binding Standard |
April 1, 2002 |
No | Link | ||
| Michigan |
35% renewables by 2025 |
Non-Binding Target |
December, 21, 2016 |
No | Link | |
|
15% renewables by 2021 |
Binding Standard |
December, 21, 2016 |
No | Link | ||
|
10% renewables by 2015 |
Binding Standard |
October 6, 2008 |
No | Link | ||
| Minnesota |
25% renewables by 2025 |
Binding Standard |
February 22, 2007 |
No | Link | |
|
10% renewable by 2015 |
Non-Binding Target |
May 25, 2001 |
No | Link | ||
| Missouri |
15% renewables by 2021 |
Binding Standard |
November 4, 2008 |
No | Link | |
| Montana |
15% renewables by 2015 |
Binding Standard |
April 1, 2005 |
No | Link | |
| Nevada | 50% renewables by 2030 and 100% carbon free by 2050 | Binding Standard | November 3, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
|
50% renewables by 2030 and 100% carbon free by 2050 |
Binding Standard |
April 19, 2019 |
Yes | Link | ||
|
25% renewables by 2025 |
Binding Standard |
July 1, 2009 |
No | Link | ||
|
15% renewables by 2013 |
Binding Standard |
June 8, 2001 |
No | Link | ||
|
1% renewables by 2001 |
Binding Standard |
January 1, 1997 |
No | Link | ||
| New Hampshire |
25.2% renewables by 2025 |
Binding Standard |
May 11, 2007 |
No | Link | |
| New Jersey |
100% clean energy by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
May 23, 2018 |
Yes | Link | |
|
50% renewables by 2030 |
Binding Standard |
May 23, 2018 |
No | Link | ||
| 22.5% renewables by 2021 | Binding Standard | April 12, 2006 | No | Link | ||
|
Renewable targets of 4% Class I and 2.5% Class I or II by 2012 |
Binding Standard |
January 1, 1999 |
No | Link | ||
| New Mexico |
100% clean energy by 2045 |
Binding Standard |
March 22, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
| New York |
70% renewables by 2030 and zero emissions by 2040 |
Binding Standard |
July 18, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
50% renewables by 2030 |
Binding Standard |
August 1, 2016 |
No | Link | ||
|
30% renewables by 2015 |
Binding Standard |
January 1, 2010 |
No | Link | ||
|
25% renewables by 2013 |
Binding Standard |
September 24, 2004 |
No | Link | ||
| North Carolina |
60-70% carbon reduction by 2030 |
Non-Binding Target |
August 16, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
12.5% renewables by 2021 |
Binding Standard |
August 20, 2007 |
No | Link | ||
| Ohio |
8.5% renewable energy by 2026 |
Binding Standard |
July 23, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
12.5% alternative energy by 2024 |
Binding Standard |
May 1, 2008 |
Yes | Link | ||
| Oregon |
50% renewables by 2040 |
Binding Standard |
March 1, 2016 |
No | Link | |
|
25% renewables by 2025 |
Binding Standard |
June 6, 2007 |
No | Link | ||
| Pennsylvania |
18% alternative energy by 2021 |
Binding Standard |
November 30, 2004 |
Yes | Link | |
| Puerto Rico |
100% renewables by 2050 |
Binding Standard |
April 12, 2019 |
No | Link | |
|
20% renewables by 2035 |
Binding Standard |
July 1, 2010 |
No | Link | ||
| Rhode Island | 100% clean energy by 2030 | Non-Binding Standard | January 17, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
|
38.5% renewables by 2035 |
Binding Standard |
June 29, 2004 |
No | Link | ||
| Texas |
RPS of 10,000 MW New Renewables by 2025 |
Binding Standard |
December 16, 1999 |
No | Link | |
| Vermont |
75% renewables by 2032 |
Binding Standard |
June 11, 2015 |
No | Link | |
|
20% renewables by 2017 |
Binding Standard |
March 1, 2008 |
No | Link | ||
|
20% renewables by 2017 |
Non-Binding Target |
June 14, 2005 |
No | Link | ||
| Virginia | 100% clean energy by 2050 | Binding Target | April 12, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
|
15% renewables by 2025 |
Non-Binding Target |
April 4, 2007 | No | Link | ||
| Washington |
100% clean energy by 2045 |
Binding Standard |
May 7, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
15% renewables by 2020 |
Binding Standard |
November 7, 2006 |
No | Link | ||
| Wisconsin |
100% carbon free by 2050 |
Non-Binding Target |
August 16, 2019 |
Yes | Link | |
|
10% renewables by 2015 |
Binding Standard |
March 31, 2006 |
No | Link | ||
|
2.2% renewabled by 2012 |
Binding Standard |
October 27, 1999 |
No | Link | ||
| Utility | AES Corporation | 50% carbon reduction by 2022 and 70% by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | April 2, 2019 | Yes | Link |
| Alliant Energy | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | July 22, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Ameren Corporation | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | September 28, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| American Electric Power | 80% carbon reduction by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | February 6, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Arizona Public Service | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | January 22, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Austin Energy | 100% carbon free by 2035 | Non-Binding Target | March 9, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Avangrid | 100% carbon free by 2035 | Non-Binding Target | February 13, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Avista Utilities | 100% carbon free by 2045 | Non-Binding Target | April 18, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Colorado Springs Utilities | 80% carbon reduction by 2030 and 90% by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | June 26, 2020 | Yes |
|
|
| Consumers Energy | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | February 24, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| 90% clean energy by 2040 | Non-Binding Target | June 7, 2019 | Yes | Link | ||
| 80% carbon free by 2040 | Non-Binding Target | February 19, 2018 | Yes | Link | ||
| Dominion Virginia Power | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | February 11, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| DTE Energy | 80% carbon free by 2040 | Non-Binding Target | September 26, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | March 28, 2018 | Yes | Link | ||
| 80% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | May 16, 2017 | Yes | Link | ||
| Duke Energy | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | September 17, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| El Paso Electric | 25% carbon reduction by 2025 and 40% by 2035 | Non-Binding Target | January 1, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Entergy Corporation | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | September 24, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Evergy, Inc. | 80% carbon reduction by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | January 30, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| FirstEnergy Corp | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | November 9, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Green Mountain Power | 100% renewables by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | April 13, 2019 | No | Link | |
| Hawaiian Electric | 100% renewables by 2045 | Non-Binding Target | December 23, 2016 | No | Link | |
| Holy Cross Energy | 70% renewables by 2021 | Non-Binding Target | January 8, 2019 | No | Link | |
| 70% renewables by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | September 19, 2018 | No | Link | ||
| Idaho Power | 100% carbon free by 2045 | Non-Binding Target | March 26, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Lansing Board of Water and Light | 100% carbon free by 2040 | Non-Binding Target | July 14, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Madison Gas & Electric | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | May 14, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| MidAmerican Energy | 100% renewables by 2021 | Non-Binding Target | May 30, 2018 | No | Link | |
| National Grid | 80% carbon reduction by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | June 18, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| NextEra Energy | 65% carbon reduction by 2021 | Non-Binding Target | September 6, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Northern Indiana Public Service Company | 90% carbon reduction by 2028 | Non-Binding Target | October 30, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | August 18, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| NorthWestern Energy LLC | 90% carbon reduction by 2045 | Non-Binding Target | December 10, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| NRG Energy | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | September 24, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Oklahoma Gas & Electric | 95% carbon reduction | Non-Binding Target | July 30, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Omaha Public Power District | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | January 6, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Orlando Utilities Commission | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | October 14, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Pacific Gas and Electric Company | Reduce 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from company operations through 2022 | Non-Binding Target | July 12, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| PacifiCorp | 60% emissions reduction in emissions by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | October 21, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Platte River Power Authority | 100% non-carbon resource mix by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | December 6, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Portland General Electric | 80% carbon reduction by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | April 24, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Inc. | 80% carbon free by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | June 6, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| PPL Corp | 70% reduction in emissions by 2040, 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | January 30, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Public Service Company of New Mexico | 100% emissions free by 2040, 70% by 2032 | Non-Binding Target | April 22, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Public Service Electric & Gas | 100% carbon free by 2050, 80% by 2046 | Non-Binding Target | July 25, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Puget Sound Energy | 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2040. | Non-Binding Target | December 15, 2017 | Yes | Link | |
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District | 100% carbon free by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | July 17, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Salt River Project | 62% reduction in emissions by end of 2030. 90% reduction in emissions by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | April 3, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Southern California Edison | 80% carbon reduction by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | November 1, 2017 | Yes | Link | |
| Southern Company | 100% carbon free by 2050, 50% by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | September 21, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Tennessee Valley Authority | 60% reduction in emissions by end of 2020. 70% reduction in emissions by 2030 | Non-Binding Target | August 6, 2019 | Yes | Link | |
| Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association | 100% reduction in emissions from coal in NM by end of 2020. 100% reduction in emissions from coal in CO by 2030. | Non-Binding Target | September 1, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Tucson Electric Power | 80% carbon reduction by 2035 | Non-Binding Target | June 26, 2020 | Yes | Link | |
| Vectren Corporation | 60% carbon reduction by end of 2023 | Non-Binding Target | August 1, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| WEC Energy Group | 80% carbon reduction by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | August 10, 2018 | Yes | Link | |
| Xcel Energy | 100% carbon free by 2050 | Non-Binding Target | December 4, 2018 | Yes | Link |
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