At-a-Glance:

A growing number of cities and states are transitioning to 100 percent clean energy — or have already. This report examines the progress communities and states have made in this journey and highlights the commonalities and differences in clean-energy policy definitions, how these policies are enacted and what those policies actually look like. To learn more, read the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation’s full report: “Progress toward 100% clean energy in cities & states across the U.S.”

Key Takeaways:

  • 204 cities and counties, along with 11 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have committed to 100% clean electricity.
  • For states establishing clean-energy targets, their definitions might vary based on:
    • what resources are eligible
    • how binding they want the 100 percent target to be
    • how and when they want to achieve this target
  • For states enacting clean-energy policy, they can pursue various avenues that may include:
    • passing legislation
    • issuing executive orders
    • proposing ballot measures
  • For cities and countries, to enact clean-energy policies, they may choose to work with:
    • publicly owned utilities
    • electric cooperatives
    • community choice aggregators

Path to 100% Perspective:

Successful, diverse examples of states and communities committing to or achieving 100 percent clean energy suggest that a clean-energy future is not only feasible but flexible. States and cities can create 100 percent clean energy policies to fit within their economic, political, and electrical market landscapes in order to ensure viability and feasibility long term. Essentially, there is more than one pathway to 100 percent.