Fact Sheet: State and utility climate change targets shift to carbon reductions, technology diversity

The document details a transition in U.S. energy policy from renewable portfolio standards to Clean Electricity Standards (CES), which allow for a diverse range of zero-carbon technologies, including nuclear and carbon capture. It provides a comprehensive list of states and utility companies that have enacted or pledged 80-100% carbon-free electricity targets, noting that these commitments collectively cover approximately 38% of U.S. electricity sales and 31% of national utility CO2 emissions.

• There is a growing trend toward 'Clean Electricity Standards' (CES), which differ from previous renewable portfolio standards by requiring an increasing percentage of zero-carbon electricity and remaining technology-neutral to bring more clean energy resources to market.
• The adoption of CES is driven by the recognition that including 'always-available' low- or no-carbon energy, such as nuclear power or gas plants with carbon capture and storage, can lower the costs of meeting strict carbon goals.
• As of May 2019, five states have enacted 100% carbon-free standards, which account for 11.0% of national electric sales and 5.4% of national utility carbon emissions.
• If four additional states currently debating 100% carbon-free standards enact them, the total coverage would increase to approximately 22% of national electric sales and 14% of national carbon emissions.
• When combining state laws with voluntary utility pledges for 80-100% carbon-free energy, the total coverage for deep carbon reductions reaches about 38% of U.S. electricity sales and 31% of national utility CO2 emissions.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2019). Fact Sheet: State and utility climate change targets shift to carbon reductions, technology diversity. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/21093732/State-and-Utility-Climate-Change-Targets.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Fact Sheet: State and utility climate change targets shift to carbon reductions, technology diversity. 2019. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/21093732/State-and-Utility-Climate-Change-Targets.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Fact Sheet: State and utility climate change targets shift to carbon reductions, technology diversity |date=5 May 2019 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/21093732/State-and-Utility-Climate-Change-Targets.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2019fact, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Fact Sheet: State and utility climate change targets shift to carbon reductions, technology diversity}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2019}, month = may, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/21093732/State-and-Utility-Climate-Change-Targets.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }