We can’t wait to address the climate crisis. Across the United States, cities, states, and businesses aren’t waiting – they are leading the fight and taking actions to curb emissions across multiple sectors and transition to 100% clean energy. June 1 July September October 2 September 10 October December 5 By the end of 2018 January 18 March March 22 April April 9 April 11 April 22 April June 7 June 26 July 18 July 25 July 23 July August 16Timeline of U.S. city, state, and business action taken to combat the climate crisis
President Trump announces plan to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord
America’s Pledge is launched
Mike Bloomberg and California Governor Jerry Brown form a partnership to lead America’s Pledge, an initiative for cities, states, universities, and businesses to deliver the country’s ambitious climate goals of the Paris Climate Accord.
EV100 launches
EV100, a global business initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure, is launched. The initiative brings together companies committed to transitioning to EVs by 2030.
General Motors announces they will go all electric
GM announces the company will work toward an all-electric, zero-emissions future. The auto-manufacturer is aiming to introduce 18 new fully electric models by 2023.
California commits to 100% clean energy
California Governor Jerry Brown commits California to 100% clean energy by 2045. It is the second state, after Hawaii, to make the commitment.
Philadelphia adopts updated building code to reduce city’s carbon footprint
Philadelphia’s city council adopts the latest version of the International Building Code, mandating that existing buildings are retrofitted to be more energy efficient and ensuring that new buildings will be as energy efficient as possible. It is estimated that families living in apartment buildings built according to the new code will save up to 30% on utility bills.
Volkswagen announces they will go electric in the next decade
VW announces they plan to retire internal combustion engines from their vehicles. After 2026, the company will only produce electric vehicles.
13,000 MW of coal-fired power is retired or scheduled for retirement
U.S. power companies shut down or announced planned shut down of over 13,000 MW of coal-fired power in the United States over the course of 2018. The number of megawatts retired in 2018 was the second highest in a year behind 2015 when generators shut over 19,000 MW. One megawatt can power about 1,000 U.S. homes.
Washington, DC commits to 100% clean energy
Mayor Bowser signs the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, setting a mandate for 100% renewable electricity for the District of Columbia by 2032.
Navajo Generating Station confirmed for 2019 retirement
Navajo lawmakers vote to end efforts to acquire Arizona’s Navajo Generating Station and ensuring that one of Arizona’s largest coal plants will cease operations in December 2019 when the plant’s lease expires.
New Mexico commits to 100% clean energy
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signs a sweeping energy bill, the Energy Transition Act, which requires New Mexico electricity generation to be 100% carbon-free by 2045.
For the first time, the U.S. generates more electricity from renewables than from coal
Increasingly low renewable prices drive an ongoing shift and for the first time 22% of U.S. electricity is generated from renewable sources compared to 20% from coal.
Washington commits to 100% clean energy
Governor Jay Inslee enacts Washington’s 100% clean energy bill requiring the state to power 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045.
Puerto Rico commits to 100% clean energy
Governor Ricardo Rosselló enacts The Public Energy Policy Law of Puerto Rico, mandating that the territory source 100% of their power from renewable energy by 2050.
Nevada commits to 100% clean energy
Governor Steve Sisolak signs a unanimously-passed bill that establishes a 100% carbon-free energy goal by 2050 for the state of Nevada.
New York City passes building emissions bill
New York City Council establishes new greenhouse gas emissions standards for large buildings, aiming to cut emissions from the city’s buildings by 40% over the next ten years.Mike Bloomberg launches Beyond Carbon
Mike Bloomberg commits $500M to launch Beyond Carbon, the largest coordinated campaign on climate change ever undertaken in the U.S.
Maine commits to 100% clean energy
Governor Janet Mills signs a series of bills adopting a Renewable Portfolio Standard committing the state to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
New York commits to 100% clean energy
Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, mandating New York achieve a 100% carbon-free electric sector by 2040.
California signs landmark vehicle manufacturing deal with four major automakers
California’s Air Resources Board signed a deal with Ford, BMW North America, Honda, and Volkswagen to toughen standards for gas mileage and emissions. The deal bypasses the Trump administration’s efforts to relax mileage standards established under the Obama administration. Under this deal, fleetwide new-vehicle mileage must average around 36 miles per gallon by 2026.
Berkeley, CA becomes first U.S. city to ban gas hook-ups
Berkeley City Council unanimously adopts an ordinance that bans gas hook-ups in new multi-family construction, ensuring that the city will be able to effectively transition to 100% clean energy.
Wind surpasses coal as a power source for the first time in Texas
Six months into 2019, wind surpassed coal as a power source for Texas, generating 22% of the state’s electrical needs thus far.
Colorado adopts ZEV program
Following adoption of clean car requirements that limited emissions from all new passenger vehicles, Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission votes to adopt a ZEV program that will ensure greater availability of electric vehicles in the state and improve air quality. Colorado becomes the 11th state to adopt a ZEV program, bringing the U.S. vehicle market covered by a ZEV program to 30%.