TOP STATE ENERGY POLICIES TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS

This report by Energy Innovation and RMI evaluates the impact of five key state-level energy policies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across six U.S. states using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS). The analysis demonstrates that a coordinated policy approach can significantly reduce emissions, create jobs, and improve public health outcomes.

• The report identifies five core policies that can dramatically reduce GHG emissions across diverse state economies: clean electricity standards, zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) standards, clean building equipment standards, industrial efficiency and emissions standards, and standards for methane detection, capture, and destruction.
• Modeling of a 'Five Policies Scenario' shows significant emissions reductions by 2050 across six analyzed states: Pennsylvania (87% reduction), Louisiana (82%), Michigan (78%), Wisconsin (72%), Minnesota (49%), and New Mexico (48%).
• The proposed clean electricity standards (CES) would require utilities to reach 80 percent clean electricity by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035, aligning with U.S. national goals for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
• The ZEV standards modeled align with California's Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks rules, targeting 100 percent ZEV sales for light-duty vehicles by 2035, and ramping up requirements for heavier vehicles through 2045.
• Industrial emissions standards could significantly cut emissions through electrification and efficiency; specifically, heat pumps alone could reduce 15 percent of national industry sector emissions by 2050, and efficiency upgrades can save 15 to 20 percent of fuel used for processes.
• Implementing the five policies is projected to generate substantial economic growth by 2030, with net new jobs ranging from 13,000 to 118,000 across the six states and GDP growth between 1 and 3 percent relative to business-as-usual.
• The policies are expected to deliver significant public health benefits by 2030, including avoiding between five and 300 premature deaths, preventing 90 to 3,800 asthma attacks, and avoiding 400 to 20,000 lost workdays.

APA

ORVIS, R., ASHMOORE, O., GOLDSTEIN, R., AGGARWAL, A., IYER, N., & CLARK-SUTTON, K. (2023). TOP STATE ENERGY POLICIES TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS. Energy Innovation. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-State-Energy-Policies-to-Cut-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf

Chicago

ORVIS, ROBBIE, OLIVIA ASHMOORE, RACHEL GOLDSTEIN, ASHNA AGGARWAL, NATHAN IYER, and KYLE CLARK-SUTTON. TOP STATE ENERGY POLICIES TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS. Energy Innovation, 2023. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-State-Energy-Policies-to-Cut-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=ORVIS |first1=ROBBIE |last2=ASHMOORE |first2=OLIVIA |last3=GOLDSTEIN |first3=RACHEL |last4=AGGARWAL |first4=ASHNA |last5=IYER |first5=NATHAN |last6=CLARK-SUTTON |first6=KYLE |title=TOP STATE ENERGY POLICIES TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS |publisher=Energy Innovation |date=February 2023 |url=https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-State-Energy-Policies-to-Cut-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{orvis2023top, author = {ORVIS, ROBBIE and ASHMOORE, OLIVIA and GOLDSTEIN, RACHEL and AGGARWAL, ASHNA and IYER, NATHAN and CLARK-SUTTON, KYLE}, title = {{TOP STATE ENERGY POLICIES TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS}}, institution = {Energy Innovation}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-State-Energy-Policies-to-Cut-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }