Thread by @LCVoters

2022 was the most important year for climate action in U.S. history.

The IRA was signed into law. @POTUS took numerous climate actions. But we can't meet our climate goals without state action — and that's exactly what happened in 2022.

THREAD of state clean energy wins 🧵👇

California led the charge on electric vehicles and climate funding, instituting the nation-leading Advanced Clean Cars II rule that requires all new cars sold after 2035 are electric 🚗

The state's last budget also included an unprecedented $54 billion to combat climate change.

Colorado continued to raise the bar for methane emission protections 🌎

✅ Adopted rules that nearly doubled oil and gas extraction site inspections
✅ Tightened standards for methane leaks
✅ Changed well clean-up rules to ensure companies cover costs

Connecticut officially committed to 100% clean electricity ⚡

The state codified a goal previously set by @GovNedLamont in a 2019 executive order — zero-carbon electricity statewide by 2040 — one of the most ambitious targets in the country.

Maryland set nation-leading climate goals 🌎

The state passed legislation this year to reduce emissions 60% by 2031 — the strongest near-term goal in the U.S.

Maryland also created a first-in-the-nation mandate that school buses purchased after 2024 be zero-emission. 🚌

In Michigan, @GovWhitmer released the MI Healthy Climate Plan that commits to:

⚡ Achieving 60% clean energy by 2030
🌎 Retiring all coal plants
🚗 Building charging infrastructure for 2 million EVs by 2030
⚖️ Allocating 40% of climate funding to disadvantaged communities

In Minnesota, @GovTimWalz announced his Climate Action Framework, laying out the state’s vision to achieve carbon-free energy by 2040 and invest at least 40% of state climate-related funding in disadvantaged communities. ⚖️

In Wisconsin, @GovEvers released the state's first Clean Energy Plan, laying a path to reach carbon neutrality, including working closely with local tribes, investing in clean energy workforce development and job training, and creating an estimated 40,000+ new jobs by 2030. 👷

Thanks to policies passed on the state and local level in 2022, 40% of people in the U.S. now live in a place dedicated to 100% clean energy.

Combined with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act on the federal level, the clean energy future is very much here ⚡

15 states have now officially committed to 100% clean energy — and 31 states have active #CleanEnergyForAll campaigns.

Learn more about 2022 state progress on climate and clean energy and how LCV state leagues helped make it happen in our new report ⬇️ lcv.org/article/2022-y…