Forward Momentum: Three ways Americas heartland can take smart action on climate in 2023 and beyond

The briefing outlines three primary pathways for climate action in the U.S. Midwest: transportation decarbonization through clean car and fuel standards, power sector decarbonization via 100% clean energy standards, and industrial decarbonization using hydrogen and carbon capture and sequestration. It highlights existing state-level commitments in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, and emphasizes the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act in providing the necessary financial incentives for these transitions.

• Midwestern states can reduce transportation emissions by adopting Advanced Clean Cars standards to limit tailpipe pollution and Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rules to increase zero-emission vehicle sales. The document notes that Illinois and Indiana have some of the highest per capita deaths from diesel pollution nationally, making the transition to clean trucks a public health and environmental justice priority.
• To achieve power sector decarbonization, the document recommends 100% clean energy standards over renewable energy standards because they allow market forces to determine the least-cost mix of carbon-free technologies without 'choosing technology winners'. It specifically mentions that Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz has proposed policies for 100% carbon-free electricity by midcentury that have not yet passed the legislature.
• Industrial decarbonization in the Midwest requires a combination of electrification, energy efficiency, low-emission hydrogen, and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), particularly for hard-to-abate sectors requiring high heat. The document identifies the development of multi-state clean hydrogen hubs and the expansion of CCS projects in North Dakota, Illinois, Michigan, and Kansas as critical steps.
• Federal legislation, specifically the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act, provides the financial framework—including tax credits and grants—necessary for states to implement clean energy, hydrogen, and carbon capture projects.

APA

Seligman, A. (2023). Forward Momentum: Three ways Americas heartland can take smart action on climate in 2023 and beyond. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2023/01/forward-momentum-three-ways-americas-heartland-can-take-smart-action-on-climate-in-2023-and-beyond/

Chicago

Seligman, Angela. Forward Momentum: Three ways Americas heartland can take smart action on climate in 2023 and beyond. Clean Air Task Force, 2023. https://www.catf.us/2023/01/forward-momentum-three-ways-americas-heartland-can-take-smart-action-on-climate-in-2023-and-beyond/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Seligman |first1=Angela |title=Forward Momentum: Three ways Americas heartland can take smart action on climate in 2023 and beyond |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=4 January 2023 |url=https://www.catf.us/2023/01/forward-momentum-three-ways-americas-heartland-can-take-smart-action-on-climate-in-2023-and-beyond/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{seligman2023forward, author = {Seligman, Angela}, title = {{Forward Momentum: Three ways Americas heartland can take smart action on climate in 2023 and beyond}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www.catf.us/2023/01/forward-momentum-three-ways-americas-heartland-can-take-smart-action-on-climate-in-2023-and-beyond/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }