The United States is in the middle of a clean energy transition as the nation pivots away from dirty fossil fuels and toward wind, solar, and other clean renewable energy sources. In 2022, as reported by the Energy Information Administration, generation from renewable sources—wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal—surpassed coal-fired generation in the electric power sector for the first time.
State and local elected leaders have recognized the need for this transition as part of a larger response to climate change. According to a 2022 Menino Institute survey, nearly all mayors surveyed worry about climate impacts on their cities. Local elected officials understand that their communities bear the costs of climate change, whether it be flooding or fire. And the reliance on dirty sources of energy have left many communities to deal with the effects of high pollution rates and poor health outcomes.
Even for state and local governments that have not committed to acting on climate change, there is a compelling case for making the transition to clean energy. State and local governments bear significant costs related to energy. Some have estimated that energy costs account for ten percent of local government operating budgets.
- Publication date: August 2024
- Authors: David R. Eichenthal and Tonantzin Caroma