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.
Memo: Opportunities for Climate-Related State Investments
December 20, 2021
This memorandum provides an overview of funding available to states in the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and potentially available in the Build Back Better Act, for climate-related investments along with key considerations for states that wish to take full advantage of this historic opportunity.
Written Statement of Vicki Arroyo before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, February 26, 2019
February 28, 2019
On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, GCC Executive Director Vicki Arroyo testified before the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure at a hearing entitled "Examining How Federal Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change." Arroyo provided spoken and written testimony to the Committee, and fielded questions along with the other panelists.
Agency Leaders For 14 States Oppose Trump Administration's Clean Power Plan Replacement
August 21, 2018
Leaders of environment and energy agencies for 14 states issued a unified statement opposing the Trump Administration’s proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan with a framework that fails to reduce carbon pollution from power plants and puts their citizens at risk from the dangerous impacts of climate change. The statement to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler was facilitated by Georgetown Climate Center.
Reducing Transportation Emissions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: Fuel System Considerations
July 23, 2018
In support of states interested in learning more about market-based policy options, the Georgetown Climate Center developed Reducing Transportation Emissions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: Fuel System Considerations to explore technical aspects of a possible regional cap-and-invest policy, as an illustrative example of a market-based approach to a multi-state transportation policy. The paper focuses on two subjects: which fuels might be covered under a policy, and which entities in the transportation fuel supply chain might be responsible for reducing emissions. First published November 12, 2017. Updated July 2018 to include new data and analysis.
More States Advocate for Strong GHG Regulations under the Clean Air Act
February 27, 2018
In addition to the letter facilitated by Georgetown Climate Center, state and city leaders also submitted these letters commenting on the ANPRM.
12 States Encourage EPA to Implement a Meaningful Federal Program to Reduce GHG Emissions
February 27, 2018
12 Governors Sign Letter Urging President Trump to Stay in the Paris Climate Agreement
May 3, 2017
Following climate marches by hundreds of thousands of Americans over the weekend, 12 U.S. governors are urging President Trump to remain in the Paris Climate Agreement and keep the United States' commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
Governors from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington signed onto the letter, which was sent to the White House this morning. The Georgetown Climate Center worked with states to facilitate this letter.
Mitigation Policy Considerations for the Maryland Commission on Climate Change
February 2, 2017
In this memorandum, the Georgetown Climate Center identifies mitigation issues that may be of interest to the Maryland Commission on Climate Change as it reports on the status of Maryland’s climate change efforts, develops recommendations for legislative action, and develops workplans for 2017 and beyond.
Energy Policies are Key to Helping Health Care Delivery Organizations Meet Ambitious Emissions Commitments
April 12, 2023
Health care delivery organizations – hospitals, clinics, and other institutions that provide health care services to patients – occupy a unique position in the climate fight: they care for people whose health is...
GCC welcomes National Climate Advisor to Georgetown Law Campus
February 17, 2023
On Friday, February 17, Georgetown Climate Center was honored to welcome White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi to the Georgetown Law Campus to present a progress report on climate action in the first two years...
GCC comments to US EPA: Inflation Reduction Act offers opportunity to expand and improve air quality monitoring for overburdened communities
January 26, 2023
A technician monitoring EPA air quality sampling equipment in Louisiana. Credit: U.S. EPA Community and environmental justice advocates have long called for more air quality monitoring in their...
Webinar Recording: “Advancing New Jersey's Climate Goals with Transportation Infrastructure Investments”
January 26, 2023
On January 20, GCC’s Director of Mitigation Programs James Bradbury was the featured speaker for a virtual Climate Academy presented by the NJ Climate Change Research Center at Rutgers University. Over the next 5...
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Power Sector Policy Forum informs GCC comments on upcoming EPA power plant emissions rules
December 14, 2022
Letter to U.S. EPA articulates support for strong standards of performance for fossil-fueled power plants
America's Zero Carbon Action Plan unveils a roadmap to eliminating GHG emissions in the U.S. by 2050
November 3, 2020
What would it take for the United States to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050? America's Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP), released last week, sets out to answer that question. Building on the U.N.'s Sustainable...
Issue Brief: Final ACE Rule Raises State Concerns
July 2, 2019
On June 19, 2019, the Trump Administration released a final regulation—dubbed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule (ACE)—that repeals and replaces the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan. This issue brief, prepared...
States respond to release of final ACE rule, rollback of Clean Power Plan
June 19, 2019
On June 19, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump Administration announced a final regulation to be instituted in place of the Clean Power Plan, known as the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. Below are...
GCC Exec. Director Vicki Arroyo testifies before House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
March 5, 2019
View GCC Executive Director Vicki Arroyo's full testimony to the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for a hearing entitled "Examining How Federal Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change."
Collective State Comments on Proposed Repeal and Replacement of the Clean Power Plan
October 31, 2018
Leaders of environmental and energy agencies from a bipartisan group of states have repeatedly opposed the Trump Administration’s efforts to repeal and replace the Clean Power Plan and called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a program that will meaningfully reduce carbon emissions from the power sector, as required by the Clean Air Act.