Washington, D.C.- The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and its state affiliates are celebrating the amazing progress that new governors have made on clean energy in their first 100 days in 2019 with a new report highlighting the many achievements that are being made at a breakneck pace. In the absence of leadership from the White House, and the resistance to progress in the US Senate, these states are leading the way by making significant moves forward toward 100 percent clean energy.

The report focuses on major clean energy policy achievements made by newly elected governors Jared Polis (CO), Ned Lamont (CT), J.B. Pritzker (IL), Janet Mills (ME), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Tim Walz (MN), Steve Sisolak (NV), Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM), and Tony Evers (WI) as well as newly re-elected Governor Kate Brown (OR). The report also features the on-the-ground work done by LCV state affiliates.

The full report can be found here.

The LCV family of organizations and our state affiliates invested over $31 million in state and local races in the 2018 election cycle, almost triple what we’ve done in any previous cycle in our 50-year history.

Separately in 2018, LCV and our 30 state affiliates, launched the Clean Energy for All campaign to transition our country to a clean energy economy by demonstrating grassroots demand for clean energy, securing candidate commitments to 100 percent clean energy, and pushing for policies and investments that reduce air pollution.

In their first 100 days in 2019, and backed by strong advocacy from our state affiliates and other groups in their communities, the 10 governors featured in this report have turned their Clean Energy for All campaign commitments into real world policies. They’re using their authority on electricity production, vehicles and infrastructure to start a clean energy race to the top that will bring their states and our nation closer to pollution-free communities, especially for the communities of color and frontline communities who have disproportionately felt the impacts of pollution. Additionally state legislatures and local leaders around the country have spent their first weeks in office making clean energy progress.

“In these governors’ first 100 days in office, they have already set an ambitious tone and pace for clean energy action, one state legislatures and the U.S. House are intent on matching,” said Gene Karpinski, President of LCV. “These Clean Energy for All champions know that the climate crisis is a problem of epic proportions that requires a level of ambition just as big. And they are not alone. The majority of people in this country want climate action, which is why candidates who ran on clean energy and addressing climate change won big in 2018.”

“Climate change is one of the greatest threats we face and evidence continues to mount that the impacts are already harming Maine. In just the past few months, my Administration has launched the start of our work to encourage serious climate change prevention and mitigation efforts,” said Maine Governor Janet Mills. “We have taken a strong stance against offshore drilling, lifted the blanket ban on wind power, and continue to encourage the growth of renewable energy production, the use of electric vehicles, and the installation of heat pumps to reduce our fossil fuel consumption. These actions are just the start of our work to combat climate change, grow our clean energy economy, and invest in our future in a thoughtful way.”

“I will not spend a single second debating the reality of climate change and its impact on our state,” said Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak. “The lack of recognition of the existence of climate change – let alone its dramatic impact – at the federal level means that our states and our local governments need to step up and lead. That’s why I made it a priority in my first 100 days to take meaningful steps to reduce Nevada’s carbon emissions by joining the U.S. Climate Alliance and get our state on track to meet a 50% renewable energy portfolio by 2030. Supporting a clean energy future isn’t just a lofty ambition – it’s a priority of mine and will lead to better lives for our children and better jobs for our working men and women.”

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