Clean Resilient States Initiative

Understanding U.S. state-level energy and climate leadership

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating sustainable jobs and economic growth, and addressing vulnerability to climate-related impacts are critical—but often competing—policy imperatives. State governments are an important source of leadership in these areas, demonstrating widely varying approaches, from comprehensive climate change plans to more piecemeal policymaking. This variation reflects state priorities and contextual factors, but it can obscure insights about which states are making the most progress over time and how.

About the Project
 

The Clean Resilient States Initiative, developed by the CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program, will assess the extent to which state policies facilitate:

  • greenhouse gas emissions reductions,
  • positive economic outcomes, and
  • resilience to climate-related impacts.

Analysis will focus on 1) the role of energy policy, resources, and technologies in achieving these objectives and 2) how coordination among states or between states and the federal government may support policy development and effectiveness.
 
Analytical efforts will result in the creation of an integrated database of pertinent state-level policies complemented by four papers to centralize and synthesize state progress within and across these energy and climate change-related areas. Together, these resources will provide guidance to state-level policymakers, identify priorities for future state-level policy research, and promote knowledge sharing among key stakeholders.
 
This project is made possible by support from the Sloan Foundation.

All Clean Resilient States Initiative Content

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Power Map

Enhancing U.S. Resilience to Climate Change

This week, Paul Farnan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Installations, Energy and Environment, and Allison Riley, Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, join Morgan Higman, Fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change program, to discuss climate preparedness strategies of the U.S. Army and state and local governments.

Podcast Episode by Morgan Higman — September 6, 2022

Photo: CSIS

U.S. States on Energy and Climate

U.S. States on Energy and Climate, part of the CSIS Clean Resilient States Initiative, is a four-day event series showcasing U.S. state-level action on energy and climate.

Event — July 11, 2022

U.S. States on Energy and Climate: New Mexico

The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program is pleased to invite you to a conversation with Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department.

Event — July 14, 2022

U.S. States on Energy and Climate: Oregon

The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program is pleased to invite you to a conversation with Janine Benner, Director of the Oregon Department of Energy.

Event — July 13, 2022

U.S. States on Energy and Climate: Oregon

The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program is pleased to invite you to a conversation with Janine Benner, Director of the Oregon Department of Energy.

Transcript — July 13, 2022

U.S. States on Energy and Climate: Illinois

The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program is pleased to invite you to a conversation with State Representative Ann Williams, Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee in the Illinois General Assembly.

Event — July 12, 2022

Making Energy Resilient

Resilience is a central tenant of state energy strategies. Within them, there are key challenges and groundbreaking opportunities to better anticipate hazards, build adaptive capacities, and measure performance over time.

Report by Morgan Higman — May 12, 2022

State Strategies for Expanding Economic Opportunity in Clean Energy

Creating economic opportunity around low-carbon industries is a priority in almost every U.S. state. This paper examines how different starting points and focus areas shape the tools and strategies that states are employing.

Report by Morgan Higman, Stephen J. Naimoli, and Nikos Tsafos — December 7, 2021

Insights on Emissions Reduction among U.S. States

While there is a tendency to applaud U.S. states with bold emissions targets, ambition is not always a good predictor of recent progress. More granular stories about state policies can help draw useful policy lessons for achieving decarbonization.

Report by Morgan Higman, Stephen J. Naimoli, and Nikos Tsafos — August 30, 2021