Carbon neutrality in the United States refers to reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to the point where carbon emissions are neutral compared to the absorption of carbon dioxide, and often called "net zero". Like the European Union, and countries worldwide, the United States has implemented carbon neutrality measures and law reform at both federal and state levels:

  • the Presidency has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50% to 52% compared to 2005 levels by 2030, a carbon free power sector by 2035, and for the entire economy to be net zero by 2050.[1]
  • by April 2023, 22 states, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico had set legislative or executive targets for clean power production.[2]
  • all cars or light vehicles will have zero emissions (i.e. no internal combustion engine with gas or diesel) by 2035 in light duty vehicles, and no longer be bought by federal government by 2027.[3]
  • the California Air Resources Board voted in 2022 to draft new rules banning gas furnaces and water heaters, and requiring zero emission appliances in 2030.[4] By 2022, four states have gas bans in new buildings.[5]

List of state clean electricity laws

The following is a list of measures to move to clean electricity in 22 states, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, dates, and the details of their laws.[6]

StateMeasureLatest dateDetails
California 100% carbon-free electricity 2045 2018 legislation (SB 100) extended and expanded the existing state RPS. State agencies are required to submit implementation plans by January 1, 2021. In 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown's Executive Order B-55-18 set a goal of statewide carbon neutrality by no later than 2045, with net negative GHG emissions thereafter.
Colorado 100% carbon-free electricity for Xcel Energy 2050 A 2019 law (SB 19-236) codified a pledge previously made by Xcel, whose service territory covers approximately 60% of the state's load. It is mandatory “so long as it is technically and economically feasible.”
Connecticut 100% carbon-free electricity 2040 Governor Ned Lamont's 2019 Executive Order (Number 3) set a 2040 goal for carbon-free electricity and asked the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop a decarbonization plan for the power sector, in line with previous legislation to cut economy-wide carbon emissions by 80% below 2001 levels by 2050. In May 2022, Senate Bill 10, An Act Concerning Climate Change Mitigation, placed the goal into law.
District of Columbia 100% renewable energy through the RPS 2032 The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 (DC Act 22-583) amended the existing RPS to mandate 100% renewable electricity by the year 2032.
Hawaii 100% renewable energy through the RPS 2045 2015 legislation (HB623) made Hawaii the first state to set a 100% RPS for the electricity sector.
Illinois 100% clean energy 2050 2021 legislation (SB2408) established a goal of 100% clean energy by 2050, with interim targets of 40% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
Louisiana Net zero greenhouse gas emissions 2050 Governor John Bel Edwards’ 2020 Executive Order (JBE 2020–18) established a Climate Initiatives Task Force to develop a roadmap and make recommendations.
Maine 100% clean energy 2050 2019 legislation (LD 1494) increased Maine's RPS to 80% by 2030, and set a goal of 100% by 2050. Also LD1679 sets an economy-wide goal of 80% cuts to greenhouse gases by 2050.
Maryland Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions 2045 The General Assembly enacted the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. This wide-ranging legislation includes the 2045 net-zero goal.
Massachusetts Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions 2050 In 2020, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs set a 2050 net-zero GHG emissions goal under the authority of 2008 legislation. The same goal was then included in a March 2021 climate action law (Bill S.9). A decarbonization roadmap was released at the end of 2020.
Michigan Economy-wide carbon neutrality 2050 Governor Gretchen Whitmer's order in 2020 (Executive Directive 2020–10) set a goal “to achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality no later than 2050.” It directed the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to develop a plan by the end of 2021.
Minnesota 100% carbon-free electricity 2040 2023 legislation (SF 4) requires electric utilities to get 100% of the electricity they sell from carbon-free sources by 2040, including renewables and nuclear power. There are interim targets of 80% carbon-free power in 2030 and 90% in 2035. The legislation also increases the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 55% by 2035.
Nebraska Net-zero carbon emissions from generation resources for Nebraska Public Power District and Omaha Public Power District 2050 Nebraska is the only state served solely by publicly owned utilities. As of December 2021, the three public utilities that serve the vast majority of customers have all adopted 100% clean energy goals. 2040 target for Lincoln Electric System.
Nevada 100% carbon-free electricity 2050 2019 legislation (SB 358) raised the RPS to 50% by 2030, and set a goal of a net-zero emission power sector by 2050.
New Jersey 100% carbon-free electricity 2035 Governor Phil Murphy's Executive Order 315 in 2023 set a goal of ensuring 100% of energy sold in the state comes from clean sources by 2035 and directed BPU to develop an updated Energy Master Plan by 2024.
New Mexico 100% carbon-free electricity 2045 2019 legislation (SB 489) requires utilities to have a zero-carbon power supply by 2045, including at least 80% from renewables, with the exception of rural electric coops which have a 2050 target date.
New York 100% carbon-free electricity 2040 2019 legislation (S6599) requires zero-emissions electricity by 2040 and sets a goal of cutting all state GHGs 85% by 2050. A Climate Action Council will develop a plan.
North Carolina Carbon neutrality in the electricity sector 2050 2021 legislation (HB 951) requires the North Carolina Utilities Commission to “take all reasonable steps” to achieve a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions from electric generating facilities in the state by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The 2022 Executive Order 246 sets an economy-wide target of net-zero emissions by "no later than 2050," sets a goal that half of new vehicle sales must be electric vehicles by 2030, incorporates environmental justice and equity into climate programs, and has other measures.
Oregon Greenhouse gas emissions reduced 100 percent below baseline emissions 2040 2021 legislation (HB 2021) requires investor-owned utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the electricity they sell to 80 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2030, 90 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2035, and 100 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2040.
Puerto Rico 100% renewable energy for electricity 2050 2019 legislation (SB1121), the Public Energy Policy Law of Puerto Rico, set a timeline for reaching 100% renewable electricity by the year 2050.
Rhode Island 100% renewable energy electricity 2033 Governor Gina Raimondo's 2020 Executive Order (20-01) requires the Office of Energy Resources to “conduct economic and energy market analysis and develop viable policy and programmatic pathways” to meet 100% of statewide electricity deliveries with renewables by 2030. 2022 legislation (H7277 SUB A) updates the state's RPS to require 100% of RI's electricity to be offset by renewable production by 2033.
Virginia 100% carbon-free electricity for Dominion Energy 2045 The 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act (House Bill 1526 and Senate Bill 851) requires zero-carbon utilities by 2050 at the latest. 2050 for Appalachian Power Company.
Washington 100% zero-emissions electricity 2045 2019's Clean Energy Transformation Act (SB5116) applies to all utilities. The state Commerce Department started a rulemaking process in August 2019. Utilities must file implementation plans by January 2022.
Wisconsin 100% carbon-free electricity 2050 Governor Tony Evers’ Executive Order (EO38) in 2019 directed a new Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy to “achieve a goal” of all carbon-free power by 2050.

Phase out of fossil fuel transport

California in 2020 set a 2035 target for all passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks to cease emissions. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont also have laws for 2035.

Maine, Oregon, Washington have laws for 2030.

Phase out of gas boiler

California has proposed a ban on gas furnaces and heating or water systems and appliances.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ FACT SHEET: President Biden to Catalyze Global Climate Action through the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (April 20, 2023)
  2. ↑ Clean Energy States Alliance, Table of clean electricity goals
  3. ↑ Executive Order 14057
  4. ↑ 'California plans to phase out new gas heaters by 2030' (23 September 2022) NPR
  5. ↑ S&P Global (9 June 2022) Market Intelligence
  6. ↑ Clean Energy States Alliance, Table of clean electricity goals
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