State officials across the country are becoming more fervent in their desire to act on climate change. Democrat-controlled governments are taking giant leaps towards a more sustainable future, using a Green New Deal approach to clean up the electricity industry and protect the planet.
Michigan is at the heart of this storm. Lawmakers at the tail end of last year followed Minnesota’s example and put into law an act that would change the face of the state’s energy policy forever. The change in rules means that utility companies must provide clean energy by 2040 and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable energy must take up between 50 and 60% percent of total state output by 2030 and 2035 respectively.
The changes being made at the state level in other parts of the country are considerable. Legislatures are boosting electric vehicle production, putting limits on natural gas implementations in new buildings, and investing in factories that can churn out millions of new battery cells every month.
Many climate scientists and activists are hoping that leading states (including California and many in the north of the country) will set an example that the rest of the country will follow. If they can show that climate action works economically, more conservative governors and politicians are likely to follow.
The federal government is also driving much of the present movement in climate policy. The Inflation Reduction Act, for example, introduced more than $369 billion for clean energy, much of which is still making its way through the system to projects on the ground.
Interestingly, polling suggests that the average person is in strong support of active climate change policies. Many people in the north and west of the country want to see more investment in renewable energy and the development of new industries to provide high-quality employment and work.
Naturally, there has been some pushback from Republicans over the policy changes, including in Michigan where Democratic lawmakers faced a rebellion, combined with industry representatives. Conservatives argue that climate action goes against property rights and puts energy independence at risk, making individual states and the U.S. more at risk of bad actors.
Even so, the trend is clearly in the direction of renewable energy. Policies across the country are supporting climate policies, hoping to bring down emissions, and even implementing bans on certain types of vehicles by 2035 (as is the case of California).
Regulations, though, may get in the way. While states are trying to pave the way for superior energy policy, the system is taking time to catch up. Legislators can’t always see the full picture.
For example, some workers wanting to get into the industry have to go to security clearance lawyers because they can’t get the permissions they need to access various systems or funds. This human resources issue is slowing down skill transfer and making it more challenging to move workers around.
There are also regulations on the use of oil. Many states are pushing ahead with a green agenda, but not putting in place the infrastructure required to move away from fossil fuels.
