Methodology
Overview
The State Climate Policy Dashboard (Dashboard) displays information on 62 climate policies across all 50 states. The Dashboard includes enacted policies in the following policy areas:
- Climate Governance and Equity
- Cross-Sector
- Electricity
- Buildings and Efficiency
- Transportation
- Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
- Natural and Working Lands
Climate XChange conducts state-by-state, policy-by-policy data collection to populate the Dashboard. Policy tracking is powered by Quorum, and is supplemented with news alerts, secondary research, and updates from members of the State Climate Policy Network. The Dashboard also leverages policy data from 11 organizations, listed in the tables below.
The Dashboard provides detailed information on legislation, executive orders, rules, regulations, programs, and other documents enacted and implemented at the state-level. Bills currently under consideration are not included.
The tables below provide an overview of the Dashboard’s policy framework, along with a description, policy tracking methods and/or data sources, and data measured for each policy.
Map Shading
The Dashboard contains shaded maps on the homepage and regional maps on state pages. Map shades reflect the occurrence of climate policies enacted at the state-level. Darker shading represents more climate policies enacted; the shadings do not reflect policy quality or ranking.
Each policy is assigned a point-based value as it’s scored on the national and regional maps. Foundational policies, such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, zero-emission vehicle sales mandates, and clean energy standards, that provide a foundation for most state emissions reductions receive a higher point value than other Dashboard policies. These values are listed in the tables below. Points are allocated by state for the following policy statuses:
- The state receives the full value indicated for a given policy if that policy is “enacted” or “in progress”.
- The state receives a fraction of the value indicated for a given policy if that policy is “partially enacted”, based on the number of policy components enacted out of the total number of components. For example, a state with 5 of 6 components enacted would receive 0.833 for that policy.
- The state receives no value for a given policy if that policy is “not enacted”.
Map shading reflects the total value a state receives for all policies. These scores are illustrative and are used for visual purposes only.
GHG Emissions Projections
Greenhouse gas emissions projections between 2020 and 2050 for the 48 contiguous U.S. states are provided by the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), managed by RMI and Energy Innovation. Business-as-usual projections are imported directly from the EPS. Additional documentation for the EPS is available here.
Dashboard Policies
Climate Governance & Equity
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Governance | Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Targets | Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to reduce the amount of GHG emissions across all economic sectors. These targets aim to limit emissions by certain amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year. | Manual | Target percentage(s) and year(s) | 2 |
| Climate Action Plans | Climate action plans are documents that clearly outline the policies and strategies that the state intends to implement to meet its emissions reduction targets. Draft plans are often published first, and after a period of public comments and revisions, a final plan is released. | Manual | Existence of a state-level climate plan | 2 | |
| Climate Bureaucracy | Climate bureaucracy consists of dedicated climate offices and staff, interagency working groups, task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff. These bodies are often responsible for writing a state's climate plan and implementing the policies and strategies identified to meet its climate targets. | Manual | Existence of governmental climate bodies and/or staff | 1 | |
| Climate Advisory Bodies | Climate advisory bodies often write or advise on a state's climate plan, and make non-binding recommendations on climate policy design and implementation. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members. | Manual | Existence of non-governmental climate advisory bodies | 1 | |
| State Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory | State greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories report sector-based GHG emissions in a given year, and often provide historical data on emissions over time. Inventories may also include data on co-pollutant emissions. | U.S. EPA State Inventory Tracker / Manual | Existence of a state-produced GHG inventory and release date | 1 | |
| EJ and Equity | Environmental Justice (EJ) Community Definitions | Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities. | Manual | State EJ community definition(s) | 2 |
| Environmental Justice (EJ) Mapping Tools | Environmental justice (EJ) mapping tools are interactive maps that visualize key EJ concepts, such as demographic information, EJ community definitions, and environmental and public health threats. | Manual | Existence of an EJ mapping tool | 1 | |
| Environmental Justice (EJ) Community Investment Requirements | Environmental justice (EJ) community investment requirements help ensure communities most impacted by environmental burdens are benefitting equitably from public programs by requiring a certain percentage of funds and/or benefits from other policies are allocated to EJ communities. | Manual | Percentage requirement(s) to EJ communities and what programs and/or funding it applies to | 2 | |
| Environmental Justice (EJ) Bureaucracy | Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. | Manual | Existence of governmental EJ bodies and/or staff | 1 | |
| Environmental Justice (EJ) Advisory Bodies | Environmental justice (EJ) advisory bodies are responsible for making recommendations on EJ policy, integrating EJ and equity principles into climate policy, and increasing public engagement. These bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members. | Manual | Existence of non-governmental EJ advisory bodies | 1 | |
| Cumulative Impact Assessment | Cumulative impact assessments determine the health and environmental impacts of renewing or granting a permit for certain pollution-generating facilities in environmental justice communities. Increased pollution burdens in communities may result in the permit application being denied. | Manual | Requirements to conduct cumulative impact assessments and/or use cases | 1 | |
| Just Transition | Just Transition Plans | Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification. | Manual | Existence of a state-level just transition plan | 1 |
| Just Transition Offices and Staff | Just transition offices and staff assist workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction and use, typically through retraining programs and support with relocation and economic diversification. Offices and staff also coordinate with other state agencies to effectively design policy to achieve a just transition. | Manual | Existence of a state-level just transition office and/or staff | 1 | |
| Just Transition Advisory Bodies | Just transition advisory bodies write or advise on a state's just transition plan or report, and make recommendations on ways to support affected workers, communities, and industries. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members. | Manual | Existence of a state-level just transition advisory body | 1 | |
| Just Transition Funds | Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels. | Manual | Existence of a state-level just transition fund | 1 |
Cross-Sector
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Finance | Green Banks | Green banks are public, quasi-public, or non-profit entities that use innovative financing to invest in climate solutions and attract private capital across various economic sectors. | Manual | Existence of a state-level green bank | 2 |
| Carbon Valuation | Carbon Pollution Pricing | Carbon pollution pricing establishes a pollution fee or cap-and-trade program on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with each sector/source of emissions within the state. Programs typically cover the electricity, buildings, transportation, and/or industrial sectors. | Manual | Sectoral coverage of carbon pollution pricing programs | 2 |
| Social Cost of Carbon | The social cost of carbon is a monetary estimate of the damage of each ton of greenhouse gases emitted. The social cost of carbon is used to quantify and monetize climate damages, representing the net economic cost of climate pollution to society. | Manual | Requirements to use the social cost of carbon | 1 |
Electricity
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Plans and Targets | Clean Energy and Renewable Portfolio Standards | Clean energy standards and renewable portfolio standards set a target for a specific amount of clean or renewable electricity the state must generate by a certain year, often with incremental targets over time. | Manual | Target(s), year(s), and utility types covered | 2 |
| Electricity Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets | Electricity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit GHG emissions in the electricity sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by different amounts over time, often expressed as percentage relative to a baseline year. | Manual | Target(s) and year(s) | 1 | |
| Clean Energy Plans | Clean energy plans are documents that outline the policies and strategies states can implement to meet clean energy targets. Draft plans are often published first, and after a period of public comments and revisions, a final plan is released. | Manual | Existence of a state-level clean energy plan | 1 | |
| Clean Energy Generation | Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out | Distributed generation/solar carve-outs require that a certain percentage of electricity generation used to meet a state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) comes from distributed generation or small-scale solar. | SPOT for Clean Energy Distributed Generation / Solar Carve-out | Number of SPOT policy components | 1 |
| Net Metering | Net metering allows a customer to be credited for selling energy they generate back to the utility company and establish rules for the transactions. | SPOT for Clean Energy Net Metering and Aggregate Net Metering | Number of SPOT policy components | 1 | |
| Shared Renewables | Shared renewables policies allow for shared solar systems that have multiple owners or subscribers, each of which pays for a portion of generation from the shared system. | SPOT for Clean Energy Shared Renewables | Number of SPOT policy components | 1 | |
| Community Choice Aggregation | Community choice aggregation allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider. | LEAN Energy US / Manual | Existence of CCA | 1 | |
| Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | Energy Storage Targets | Energy storage targets establish procurement targets for energy storage systems by a certain date, often with interim targets. Targets can vary from broad megawatt (MW) requirements to more specific mandates that focus on the adoption of certain storage technologies. | PNNL / Manual | Target(s) and year(s) | 1 |
| Interconnection Standards | Interconnection standards create a streamlined, affordable and predictable set of procedures and requirements for connecting new distributed energy resources safely and reliably to the grid. | Freeing the Grid | Freeing the Grid state grades | 1 | |
| Coal Retirement | Coal Phaseouts | Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. | Manual | Approach to phaseout and starting year | 1 |
| Coal Securitization | Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers. | Manual | Authorization of securitization for coal plant retirement | 1 |
Buildings and Efficiency
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Codes | Residential Energy Codes | Residential energy codes are statewide building codes that dictate the energy performance requirements of newly constructed residential buildings. | U.S. DOE Building Energy Codes Program | Most recent energy code adopted | 1 |
| Commercial Energy Codes | Commercial energy codes are statewide building codes that dictate the energy performance requirements of newly constructed commercial buildings. | U.S. DOE Building Energy Codes Program | Most recent energy code adopted | 1 | |
| Stretch Building Energy Codes | Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes. | Manual | Most recent stretch code adopted | 1 | |
| Building Standards | Appliance Standards | Appliance standards set minimum energy and water conservation requirements for appliances and equipment. | Manual | Number of products covered | 1 |
| Building Performance Standard | Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. | Manual | Covered building(s), energy savings target(s) and years | 1 | |
| Clean Heat Standard | Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers. | Manual | Existence of a clean heat standard | 1 | |
| Energy Efficiency | Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) | Energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) establish targets and deadlines for utilities to reduce electricity demand through efficiency or "demand side" programs. | Manual | Energy savings target(s) and year(s) for electric utilities and gas utilities | 1 |
| Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | Property assessed clean energy (PACE) allows residential and/or commercial property owners to finance efficiency upgrades with loans tied to the property. | Manual | Existence of PACE-enabling legislation, program type, existence of active PACE programs | 1 | |
| Weatherization Funding | Weatherization funding provides financial assistance to homeowners/tenants for home repairs and improvements to insulation, appliances, windows and lighting. | SPOT for Clean Energy Low-Income Energy Efficiency | Number of SPOT policy components | 1 | |
| Building Electrification | All-Electric Buildings | All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. | Manual | Covered buildings and starting year | 1 |
Transportation
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light-Duty Vehicles | Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards | Under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, California has the unique authority to establish vehicle emission standards more stringent than federal standards, and other states may adopt California’s standards. These Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards control tailpipe emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gasses from light-duty vehicles. | Manual | Adoption of California's Low-Emission Vehicle regulations | 1 |
| Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates | Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates, also known as "clean car standards," require automakers to produce and sell a certain percentage of zero-emission light-duty vehicles each model year based on total new vehicle sales. The most stringent ZEV mandates require 100% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035 and are known as "Advanced Clean Cars II". | Manual | Adoption of California's Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations, with percentages and years | 2 | |
| Electric Vehicle Rebates | Electric vehicle rebates offer rebates to make light-duty electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state. | Manual | Rebate amount(s) and covered vehicle types | 1 | |
| Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | Low NOx Omnibus Rules | Low NOx Omnibus Rules establish stringent tailpipe emission standards for heavy duty vehicles, updated testing procedures, and technology-neutral compliance mechanisms to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution. The regulation must be adopted first by California, and other states may adopt the regulation under the federal Clean Air Act. | Manual | Adoption of California's Low-NOx Omnibus regulations and model year start | 1 |
| Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates | Medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle (MHDV) mandates, also known as "Advanced Clean Trucks", require automakers to produce and sell a certain number of zero-emission MHDVs to fulfill a quota based on a percentage of total sales in states. | Manual / Electric Trucks Now | Adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks regulations, with percentages and years | 2 | |
| Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebates | Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle rebates consist of programs and policies that offer rebates to make MHD electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state. | Manual | Rebate amount(s) and vehicle type(s) covered | 1 | |
| Lead by Example | Public Fleet Electric Vehicle (EV) Procurement Targets | Public fleet electric vehicle (EV) procurement targets require that a certain percentage or number of vehicles purchased or leased by the state are zero-emission or electric vehicles. This can apply to passenger cars, light-duty vehicles, and/or medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in a state’s public fleet. | Manual | Target percentage(s), year(s), and vehicle types | 1 |
| Electric Bus Procurement Targets | Electric bus procurement targets require that a certain percentage or number of school buses and/or transit buses purchased or leased by the state, transit authorities, and/or school districts must be electric or zero-emissions. | Manual | Target percentage(s), year(s), and vehicle types | 1 | |
| EV Charging Infrastructure | Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Rebates | Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rebates offer rebates to make the purchase and/or installation costs of EV charging infrastructure more affordable. | Manual | Rebate amount(s) and covered chargers | 1 |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Requirements | Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements establish mandates for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in new construction or developments, such as residential or commercial buildings, and public parking lots. | Manual | Requirements for installing EVSE in new construction, and covered construction type(s) | 1 | |
| Transportation Plans and Targets | Electric Vehicle (EV) and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans | Electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging infrastructure plans are documents that provide a framework to guide the development, coordination, and adoption of EVs and EV charging infrastructure. | Manual | Existence of a state-level plan | 1 |
| Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets | Transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit emissions in the transportation sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by specific amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year. | Manual | Target percentage(s) and year(s) | 1 | |
| Low Carbon Fuel Standards | A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) is a market-based mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and account for the fuel's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. | Manual | Target(s) and year(s) | 1 | |
| Public and Active Transportation | Bicycle Friendly States | The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states. | League of American Bicyclists' 2022 Bicycle Friendly State Ranking | State ranking and Bicycle Friendly Action components | 1 |
Industry, Waste, and Materials Management
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Decarbonization | Buy Clean Requirements | Buy clean requirements mandate or incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as concrete and steel, in public projects to address embodied carbon. | Manual / BlueGreen Alliance | Existence of Buy Clean requirements | 1 |
| F-Gas Regulations | Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Regulations | Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) regulations include phasedown commitments, rulemakings, disclosure requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce HFC usage and emissions. | NASRC / Manual | Uses and products where HFCs are prohibited | 1 |
| Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Regulations | Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce SF6 usage and emissions. | Manual | Requirements to manage and/or limit SF6 emissions | 1 | |
| Oil and Gas Regulations | Oil and Gas Methane Regulations | Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production. | Manual | Requirements to manage and/or limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations | 1 |
| Fracking Bans | Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations. | Manual | Fracking ban coverage | 1 | |
| Waste Management | Landfill Methane Regulations | Landfill methane regulations include rulemakings, emissions monitoring, emissions control, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from decaying organic waste in landfills. | Manual | Requirements to manage and/or limit methane emissions from landfills | 1 |
| Food Waste Bans and Targets | Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year. | ReFED / Manual | Targets: Target percentage(s) and year(s) Bans: Entities covered and requirements | 1 |
Natural and Working Lands
| Policy Category | Policy | Description | Tracking Method | Data Measured | Map Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Agriculture Financial Incentives | Agriculture financial incentives support healthy soils and regenerative agriculture. Incentives may include reduced crop insurance premiums, property tax exemptions, grants, or cost-share programs. | Manual | Existence of state-level financial incentives for healthy soils | 1 |
| Agriculture Technical Assistance Programs | Agriculture technical assistance programs provide state-driven technical assistance, apprenticeship and mentorship programs, and support securing additional funding for farmers to increase uptake of soil health practices. | Manual | Existence of state-level technical assistance for healthy soils | 1 |