Informing Federal Standards to Reduce Carbon Pollution
Georgetown Climate Center conducts legal and policy analysis, facilitates dialogues between federal and state agency leaders, and convenes states and stakeholders to inform the development of federal standards to reduce carbon pollution from the power sector. In December 2022, GCC submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Power Sector Policy Forum that expressed support for “strong standards of performance for existing coal-, oil- and natural gas-fired power plants” in order to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector.
Convening States and Stakeholders
Georgetown Climate Center convenes states and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities for state leadership on climate and clean energy. The facilitation of regional and multi-state forums informs the development and implementation of federal policies and programs and serves as a resource for states. GCC’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Power Sector Policy Forum brings together state energy, environment, and utility regulatory agency officials in 11 states to support the transition to cleaner energy in the region.
Georgetown Climate Center also facilitates engagement by subnational leaders, including governors and state agency leaders, in international climate policy development.
Adaptation Clearinghouse: Energy Sector
An online database and networking site that serves policymakers and others who are working to help communities adapt to climate change. This page includes resources to help policymakers understand, plan, and prepare for impacts of climate change to the energy sector, ranging from changes in energy demand to preparing for threats to energy infrastructure.
Reducing Emissions from the Health Care Sector
With support from the Commonwealth Fund, the Georgetown Climate Center is reviewing federal and state energy policies that could help health care delivery organizations meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. This includes policies to reduce fossil-fuel use at health care facilities and shift to clean electricity, reduce transportation emissions from health care–related vehicles and fleets, increase resilience from extreme weather events and provide cleaner air for communities near health care delivery facilities, and drive reductions in supply chain emissions.
State Leadership Driving the Shift to Clean Energy: 2016 Update
November 14, 2016
A new report from the Georgetown Climate Center shows that a dramatic shift to clean energy is taking place across the U.S. The report features profiles of 19 diverse states.
Comments on Clean Power Plan Federal Plan Requirements and Model Trading Rules
January 21, 2016
The Georgetown Climate Center submitted comments in response to the proposed Clean Power Plan Federal Plan Requirements and Model Trading Rules. These comments were built on discussions the Center had with states as they consider their options for developing plans, and on prior research conducted by the Center on the linking of subnational emissions trading programs, but they do not necessarily reflect the views of individual states.
Memorandum: Policy Considerations for the Maryland Climate Change Commission
November 22, 2015
This memorandum identifies policy issues that may be of interest to the Maryland Climate Change Commission as it drafts its November 2015 report on the status of Maryland’s climate change efforts and recommendations for legislative action,1 and as its considers topics for its 2016 agenda. This memorandum focuses on issues relating to the evaluation of Maryland’s progress towards its 2020 goal with regard to fuel switching in the power sector, projected changes in vehicle miles traveled, and future growth of electric vehicles. It also provides context regarding other states that have set emission reduction goals for years between 2025 and 2035, and identifies potential additional emission reduction policies that could achieve reductions in future years.
Supporting State Plan Compatibility and Interstate Compliance with the Clean Power Plan
July 7, 2015
The Georgetown Climate Center has released a working paper identifying opportunities for guidance and tools from the Environmental Protection Agency to support the development of state plans that are compatible with each other, and facilitate interstate compliance with the Clean Power Plan. As states and stakeholders consider options to comply with EPA’s Clean Power Plan requirements to reduce emissions from the power sector, there is growing interest in developing individual state plans that give regulated entities the option of working across multiple states to achieve compliance.
Single State Clean Power Plan Compliance Approaches with Interstate Elements
May 28, 2015
The Georgetown Climate Center has released a policy brief providing an overview of considerations for single-state Clean Power Plan compliance plans that would allow for the option of interstate trading of compliance instruments. This document examines how such programs could work under both rate-based and mass-based models of compliance.
An Overview of Potential Clean Power Plan Compliance Pathways
January 14, 2015
The Georgetown Climate Center has released a policy brief highlighting potential approaches that states could use to comply with the EPA's Clean Power Plan—the agency's proposed rule to limit carbon pollution from the power sector.
States Voice Strong Support for EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plan
December 1, 2014
In a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, environment and energy leaders from 14 states expressed strong support for the agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan.
Summary of the EPA's Notice of Data Availability for the Clean Power Plan
November 6, 2014
This document provides a summary of EPA’s Notice of Data Availability issued October 28, 2014, which supplements EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan regulation to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants.
Charging Ahead – Options for Policymakers Regarding the Regulation of Electric Vehicle Charging Markets
June 17, 2014
This paper provides an overview of the market for electric vehicle charging services, identifies actors and actions that might warrant regulation, and poses questions for policymakers to consider in determining the role that governments should play.
Detailed Summary of the EPA's Proposed Rule to Limit Carbon Pollution from the Power Sector
June 13, 2014
This document provides a summary of EPA’s recently proposed rule to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. It contains a particular focus on elements of the proposal that may be of interest to the states.
State Officials Oppose the Trump Administration's Proposal to Replace the Clean Power Plan
August 22, 2018
On Tuesday, August 21, 2018, the Trump Administration announced its proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan. Environment and energy agency leaders from 14 states sent a letter to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew...
12 States Encourage EPA to Implement a Meaningful Federal Program to Reduce GHG Emissions
February 28, 2018
On Monday, February 26, 2018, environmental and energy agency leaders from 12 states submitted comments urging the EPA to meaningfully regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and to recognize the successful...
Georgetown Climate Center Testifies in Opposition to Proposed Repeal of the Clean Power Plan
November 29, 2017
The Georgetown Climate Center's Sarah Duffy testified on Nov. 29 in opposition to the EPA's proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan at an EPA hearing in West Virginia. In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Nov. 28, Vicki Arroyo, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center, also urged the Trump Administration to expand opportunities for public input on its proposed repeal.
U.S. State Leadership at COP23
November 17, 2017
U.S. state leaders delivered a strong message to the rest of the world that cities, states, and businesses will continue to lead and do their part to deliver on U.S. commitments during the U.N. climate change talks this week in Germany. To help U.S. leaders deliver that message, the Georgetown Climate Center, The Climate Registry, and the Climate Action Reserve supported a delegation of 11 U.S. states, which included four U.S. governors. It was the largest delegation of U.S. states to ever attend the annual Conference of Parties (COP) climate talks.
State and Local Climate Leadership in the Trumpocene
October 18, 2017
In a special issue of the Carbon & Climate Law Review, Vicki Arroyo identifies steps that states and cities are taking that demonstrate their climate leadership in the face of the Trump Administration's assault on climate change policy.
State Reactions to Trump Repealing the Clean Power Plan
October 10, 2017
View statements made by state officials about the Trump Administration's decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan.
New Report Examines Policy Options for Cutting Carbon Emissions in New Jersey
September 21, 2017
A new report released by the Georgetown Climate Center, Rutgers, and World Resources Institute underscores that significant state actions will be necessary for New Jersey to meet its long-term target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050, and finds that New Jersey has many options to do so.
States and Stakeholders Envision a Cleaner Transportation Future and the Means to Achieve It
September 21, 2017
The Georgetown Climate Center hosted a symposium of business leaders, transportation experts, health care advocates, equity and environmental NGOs, and others in New York this week to give participants the opportunity to share their vision of a cleaner transportation future with state officials. Senior officials from 15 states and Washington, DC, participated in the event.
States Urge Trump Administration to Move Forward with Clean Power Plan
July 17, 2017
Environmental officials from 12 states continue to encourage the Trump Administration to move forward with the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from the power sector, in response to the Administration's anticipated rollback of the regulation.
New Subnational Coalitions Demonstrate Leadership After Paris Withdrawal
June 5, 2017
Several governors and a growing number of U.S. leaders have announced they are committed to the Paris climate agreement. In three major announcements, these leaders pledged to reduce carbon pollution and to fill the...