In the wake of the United States’ contentious mid-term elections and the substantial (if not overwhelming) Blue Wave which swept the country, there are at least five new Governors-elect who put forward campaign promises of introducing 100% renewable electricity goals if they were elected. Now that the dust has (mostly) settled across the country, it’s worth looking at those five states who propose to follow in the path set by Hawaii and California – both of which are aiming to achieve that goal by 2045. In Colorado, newly-elected Governor-elect Jared Polis announced during the campaign on his website that, “I’m running on a plan to bring Colorado to 100% renewable energy by 2040; we can’t afford to wait.” This will increase the state’s existing target of 30% by 2020, as set out in the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Governor-elect Ned Lamont in Connecticut similarly promised on his campaign website that, “I support strengthening the state’s RPS to at least 35 percent Class I renewable energy sources by 2025; at least 50 percent by 2030; at least 80 percent by 2040; and 100 percent by 2050.” Illinois’ newly-elected Governor J.B. Pritzker said on his campaign website that: “As governor, I will bring all stakeholders to the table to put Illinois on a path toward 100% clean, renewable energy and make sure that every community justly benefits during this transition.” Nevada’s Governor-elect Steve Sisolak – making his promise in campaign video – that “I am fully supportive of the ballot proposal to increase our renewable energy to 50% by 2030” – a measure which was passed, but must pass again in 2020 if it is to become law through referendum. “In fact, as governor, I’d like to get us on the road to 100%,” Finally, Maine’s Governor-elect Janet Mills was quoted in September as saying, “I believe that by 2050 we can transition to a healthy and prosperous economy relying virtually entirely on renewable energy. That’s my goal,” continued Mills. “Solar, onshore wind, offshore wind and eventually good battery storage as well as energy efficiency will get us there.”
Renew Economy 16th Nov 2018 read more »