Governor Whitmer Unveils Michigan Climate Plan

On April 21 Governor Whitmer announced the MI Healthy Climate Plan, a roadmap for Michigan to achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, with interim 2025 and 2030 goals. The plan focuses on actions between now and 2030 to tackle environmental injustices, clean the electric grid, electrify the state’s transportation sector, repair and decarbonize commercial and residential buildings, and encourage innovation in the industrial sector. Notable initiatives include generating 60% of the state’s electricity from renewable resources, phase out remaining coal-fired plants and build infrastructure necessary to support 2 million electric vehicles on Michigan roads all by 2030.

Florida Commissioner Introduces 100% Clean Energy Target
 
On April 21, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried proposed a rule to transition utilities away from fossil fuel generation to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and hit incremental goals along the way.
Under the proposed rule, Florida would achieve interim targets of at least 40% renewable energy by 2030, 63% by 2035 and 82% by 2040. It would also require each electric utility to report annually the amount of renewable energy it produces or purchases. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) would annually review those reports and provide the Florida Public Service Commission with analysis of whether each utility will meet the statewide goals. The FDACS will be accepting public comments on the proposed rule for 21 days – through May 12.

 

Wisconsin Releases First Clean Energy Plan

Together with the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, Governor Evers released the first-ever state Clean Energy Plan. This plan creates a pathway to multi-sector deep decarbonization and a transition to a clean energy economy that prioritizes environmental justice, a diverse workforce, and technology innovation as directed by Executive Order #38 signed back in 2019. Key objectives include putting Wisconsin on a path for all electricity consumed within the state to be 100% carbon-free by 2050, ensure Wisconsin is fulfilling the reduction goals in like with the 2015 Paris Agreement, and create more than 40,000 new jobs by 2030.

Bill Signed Limiting Retail Choice in Arizona

On April 26, Governor Ducey signed House Bill 2101, which aims to address reliability issues in the state but repeals language passed in 1998 that was meant to increase retail competition in the electricity sector. The bill is in part a response to Texas-based Green Mountain Energy’s application last year to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to sell renewable energy to customers in Arizona Public Service (APS) and Tucson Electric Power’s service areas. The ACC could provide retailers entry into the state by adopting separate rules on competition, but experts say the current bill sends negative market signals to companies considering the state.
 
Diverse Coalition Supports Federal Funding for Transmission 

On April 29, a diverse group of 36 clean energy organizations, environmental nonprofits, labor unions, consumer groups, developers, and other companies sent a joint letter to Congress asking for robust funding for high-voltage transmission deployment and research in the DOE budget. Funding across the Grid Deployment Office, Loan Programs Office and Office Electricity will drive clean energy deployment, unleash billions in private investment, create thousands of jobs, deliver low-cost energy to consumers, and reduce emissions. Requests included additional funding for the transmission facilitation program, for deployment of technologies to enhance grid flexibility, grants for enhancing grid resilience, and funding needed for transmission planning studies and technical assistance for states.