State Action
The Georgetown Climate Center works collaboratively with states and regional climate initiatives to advance effective climate, adaptation, and transportation policies, and to strengthen state and federal climate partnerships.
The Center serves as the convener of the Governors’ Energy and Climate Coalition and the Transportation and Climate Initiative and helps facilitate ongoing information sharing among the nation's three regional climate initiatives.
News and Updates
On January 14, 2013, a group led by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) published a report authorized by a joint resolution of the Virginia legislature to study recurrent flooding in the state. The study, Recurrent Flooding Study for Tidewater Virginia, recommends that the state and coastal localities initiate a comprehensive and coordinated planning effort to avoid catastrophic flooding related to sea-level rise, noting that it takes 20-30 years to effectively plan and implement many of the necessary adaptation strategies. The report predicts that flood risk will continue to worsen for at least the next 50 years. For example...
On February 7, 2013, the nine Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced they are proposing to lower the regional power plant CO2 emissions cap by 45 percent and to introduce more flexible cost control mechanisms to the regional cap and trade program.
The states released an updated model rule and a summary of accompanying recommendations resulting from a comprehensive two year ...
On Dec. 28, 2012, Governor Martin O’Malley signed the "Climate Change and Coast Smart Construction Executive Order" to increase Maryland’s long term resiliency to flooding and sea-level rise. The order directs that all new and reconstructed state structures and other infrastructure improvements in Maryland be planned and constructed to avoid or minimize future flood damage.
“As storms such as Hurricane Sandy have shown, it is vital that we commit our resources and expertise to create a ready and resilient Maryland, by taking the necessary steps to adapt to the rising sea and unpredictable weather,” said Governor O’Malley. “In...
California held the first auction for its cap-and-trade market on Wednesday, November 14, selling allowances under a cap in order to reduce the greenhouse gases that lead to climate change.
The state will release details about the number and price of allowances sold on Nov. 19. Funds generated from the auction will be used for state programs that are consistent with the goals of AB32, the state's climate change law.
The cap on carbon pollution will initially cover electric utilities and large industrial facilities, and in 2013 will be set about 2 percent below the emissions level forecast for 2012. The cap will decline about 2 percent in 2014 and another 3...
The Transportation and Climate Initiative released a market overview and literature review today that provides an overview of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) deployment in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
The report assesses current electric vehicle and electric vehicle charging station technology, looks at the state of PEV markets, reviews the benefits of PEV deployment, and identifies the barriers and challenges to PEVs in gaining market acceptance. The document is intended to serve as a resource for consumers and policy makers who seek to better understand the nature of and challenges facing electric vehicle deployment in the TCI region.
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Building on the rapid progress of the Northeast Electric Vehicle Initiative, state leaders in the northeast have begun developing a shared vision with some of the nation's leading clean energy companies to facilitate the deployment of clean vehicles and fuels in the region.
At the most recent Transportation and Climate Initiative Summit in June, state leaders were joined by UPS, Coloumb Technologies, Nissan, National Grid, Tesla, and other leading companies for a discussion that was focused on the need to get more clean fuel vehicles on the street.
The companies emphasized that in addition to developing incentives for purchasing these vehicles, government leadership was what was needed most.
Jim Bruce, Vice President of Corporate Public...
On June 21, 2012, New Hampshire enacted House Bill 1847, prohibiting the state from participating in any low-carbon fuel standard program without prior and express legislative approval. The law took effect without the signature of Governor John Lynch. In December 2009, Lynch signed a memorandum of understanding with 10 other Northeast states to evaluate and develop a framework and model rule for a regional low-carbon fuel standard in the region. Building on this agreement, an...
