Equitable Adaptation Legal & Policy Toolkit

Statewide Plans and Programs

State governments and agencies may have access to resources that local governments, non-profits, local businesses, and individuals may not, including funding and financing availability, more staffing and employees available, and pre-existing relationships with federal agencies and/or nationwide organizations. State agencies can connect local experts and stakeholders with data on climate-related impacts, as statewide studies on climate-related impacts and disasters are often done by state agencies to comply with federal regulations.^{See footnote 1} Existing partnerships between state agencies and the federal government can be leveraged to provide additional funding for green infrastructure and clean energy projects.^{See footnote 2} State-level employee experts with knowledge of best practices can help to create resources for policymakers in localities that do not have this type of access or knowledge.

Additionally, state agencies can create sector-specific statewide plans that require or recommend the adoption of practices that promote economic resilience at a local or community level.

“Statewide planning goals pass along safety and resilience requirements and/or suggestions to each municipality on a range of topics, including requiring inventories of hazard risk areas in comprehensive plans; adopting land use plans that reduce vulnerabilities to hazards; updating building codes with requirements related to earthquake, wind, wildfire, and flood hazards; requiring new critical facilities to undergo hazard-specific site analysis; and encouraging overlay zoning and transfer of development rights to restrict unsafe development.”^{See footnote 3}

These programs or plans can be as comprehensive as an energy plan that lays out a state’s intention to transition to clean energy (which often include smaller programs like workforce development, youth engagement, and the other tools discussed above); or, they can be as granular and specific as a workforce development and training program available to in state-residents.

The incorporation of statewide plans or strategies into a local community resilience plan or program can help to create economic resilience from a top-down perspective. By leveraging state resources and implementing statewide resilience plans, individuals, business, and communities will be (1) better able to recover quickly from a shock; (2) better able to withstand a shock; and (3) in some instances, better able to avoid a shock altogether.

Considerations of Statewide Plans and Programs for Economic Resilience

Economic	Funding for specific programs — such as workforce development and training programs — can come from existing state clean energy funds, or states can pass new legislation to create clean energy funds. Green Energy Funds are often made up of a variety of sources, including grants, proceeds from regional cap and trade programs (RGGI, Inc., California’s Cap and Trade program), donations from philanthropies and foundations, etc. While transitioning to clean energy may have more upfront costs, customers and utilities will actually save money in the long run by converting to renewables.^{See footnote 4}
Environmental	Energy transition plans created by economic development or environmental agencies can include strategies about how the state intends to transition to clean, renewable energy resources cross-sector. Specific statewide programs, such as workforce training or youth engagement programs, can focus on clean energy training and career advancement.
Social/Equity	Most often, fossil fuel plants are located in frontline communities. Creating plans that equitably transition from fossil fuel to clean energy requires ensuring that these communities are among the first to benefit from the creation of jobs, green infrastructure investment, etc. More specific programs, such as workforce development and training programs, can give preference to applicants from frontline communities.
Administrative	State policymakers will almost certainly have to work across agencies to develop and implement binding, statewide legislation that addresses a state’s transition to clean energy. In order to develop sector-specific programs, such as green infrastructure development, workforce training, or youth engagement programs, state agencies and state-level policymakers must work with local stakeholders.
Legal	State agencies can either promulgate legislation that requires that local cities and municipalities adopt specific practices or programs that enhance economic resilience, or publish recommendations and resources for local policymakers.

Lessons Learned

Policymakers that involve stakeholders from frontline communities as early as possible in the development of a statewide plan or program are more likely to achieve outcomes that are aligned with the community's needs. This will help to ensure transparency and can help to reassure stakeholders on the ground in local communities that their needs and concerns will be addressed.
State policymakers should also seek to educate utility ratepayers on the savings that residents that will result from a transition to cleaner energy. In New Mexico alone, the Energy Transition Act is expected to reduce monthly utility bills upwards of $7 by 2022.^{See footnote 5}
States governments and agencies have the power to promulgate the rules and regulations by which localities are required to operate. By explicitly requiring that cities and municipalities take the resilience of frontline communities into account, state policymakers can help to ensure that economic resilience within these communities is enhanced.
To encourage participation in statewide programs, such as workforce development programs, state agencies can offer to help finance employee salaries. In New York, NYSERDA pays 50% of the salary of employees who participate in the Clean Energy Workforce Development Program for a certain period of time.^{See footnote 6}
Nonprofits and individuals at a local level hoping to implement tools such as workforce development or training programs should research whether their state has a comprehensive or sector-specific energy transition plan. In creating a program to help facilitate the achievement of this program, designers may be able to leverage state funding.

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New York State (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Workforce Development Program

New York State’s Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) developed the Clean Energy Workforce Program, which commits more than $100 million through 2025 to converting the State’s workforce to a cleaner, more resilient future. Working with partners across the state — including small businesses, local governments, frontline community leaders, and more — NYSERDA is focusing on funding five programs in the clean energy sector: (1) training in energy efficiency and clean technology; (2) on the job/site training; (3) providing internships to young adults; (4) offering training on building operations and maintenance; and (5) funding contractors that provide clean energy training. With all of these programs, NYSERDA gives preference to members of priority populations — including veterans, Native Americans, individuals with disabilities, those coming from low-income households, unemployed power plant workers, and the previously incarcerated.

View Resource at https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/new-york-state-nyserda-clean-energy-workforce-development-program.html

Missouri Comprehensive State Energy Plan

In October 2015, Officials within Missouri’s Department of Economic Development and the Division of Energy released the Comprehensive State Energy Plan, which outlined recommendations that would help the state transition to cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable energy. As a result of numerous public meetings and significant stakeholder participation, the agencies were able to divide their recommendations into five categories that would help Missouri achieve its energy goals: promoting efficiency of use; ensuring affordability; diversifying and promoting security in supply; undertaking regulatory improvements; and stimulation innovation, emerging technologies, and job creation. Compliance with these statewide recommendations will help to create new jobs, expand the economy, facilitate more efficient use of energy in all sectors, and help households more effectively manage their energy budgets — all in a more equitable manner. The Plan is a living document that serves as a resource for all elected officials, communities, businesses, and even individuals. In local, frontline communities especially, it is intended to serve as the basis for developing community-specific plans that not only emphasize its energy resources, but the priorities of the area.

View Resource at https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/missouri-comprehensive-state-energy-plan.html

New Mexico SB 489 - Energy Transition Act

In 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Energy Transition Act into law, which requires the state’s electric grid to convert to 100% carbon-free by 2045. It explicitly lays out the equitable retirement and replacement of coal power plants within the state to clean, affordable, carbon-free electricity. The Act creates the Energy Transition Economic Development Assistance Fund — which consists of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, and bequests — which will be used solely for the purpose of promoting economic development unrelated to fossil fuel development or use in frontline communities.

View Resource at https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/new-mexico-sb-489-energy-transition-act.html

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