Clean Energy and Renewable Portfolio Standards
One of the longest-standing strategies to advance renewable energy, renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) require a specific percentage or megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity sold by utilities in the state to be generated by renewable resources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower.
Several states opt for a clean energy standard (CES), which expands the definition of qualifying resources to zero-carbon energy sources that may not be considered renewable, such as nuclear energy. States can define what “renewable” and “clean” resources are under their RPS and CES, which is often the main distinction between the two policies, and in most cases a CES will include an RPS as part of the requirement. RPS and CES policies usually include a set of incremental milestones that increase the level of renewable or clean energy supplied to in-state consumers each year.
Typically, RPS and CES policies place the obligation of achieving these targets on the utility, and may establish different targets and timelines for municipal utilities, electricity cooperatives, and investor-owned utilities (IOUs). These entities are responsible for the planning processes, requests for proposals, and contracts required to ensure they deliver the requisite level of renewable or clean electricity in their energy supply.
Key Resources
U.S. State Renewables Portfolio & Clean Electricity Standards: 2024 Status Update
Equity in State 100% Clean Energy Legislation and Executive Orders
Policy Explainer: Creating Demand for Clean Energy with Renewable Portfolio Standards
100% for 100% Climate Narrative and Movement Building Case Study
Model Rules
LPDD Model Law: State Legislation to Decarbonize the Generation of Electricity
Model States
Minnesota
25% renewable energy by 2025 | 80% clean electricity for investor-owned utilities (IOUs), and 60% for munis and coops by 2030 | 55% renewable and 90% clean electricity by 2035 | 100% clean electricity by 2040
Rhode Island
100% renewable energy by 2033
Vermont
63% renewable energy by 2025 | 100% by 2030 for utilities serving at least 75,000 customers | 100% by 2035 for utilities serving less than 75,000 customers
Washington
15% renewable energy by 2020 | 100% greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 | 100% renewable or zero-emitting energy by 2045
Clean Energy and Renewable Portfolio Standards By State
Status | State Sort descending | Region | Components | YR Enacted | |
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Not Enacted |
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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. Empty column
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Southeast | |||
Not Enacted |
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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. Empty column
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West | |||
Enacted |
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15% renewable energy by 2025, on an annual load basis Establishing Policies
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Southwest | 2007 | ||
Not Enacted |
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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. Empty column
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Southeast | |||
Enacted |
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60% renewable electricity by 2030 | 90% by 2035 | 95% by 2040 | 100% by 2045 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
West | 2022 | ||
Enacted |
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30% renewable energy by 2020 for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) | 10% or 20% renewable energy by 2020 for munis and coops depending on size | 100% clean energy by 2050 for IOUs serving 500,000 or more customers Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
West | 2019 | ||
Enacted | Northeast | 2018 | |||
Enacted |
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25% renewable energy by 2025 | 40% by 2035 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Southeast | 2021 | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Not Enacted |
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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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Enacted |
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40% renewable energy by 2030 | 70% by 2040 | 100% by 2045 Establishing Policies
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|
West | 2015 | ||
Not Enacted |
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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. Empty column
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West | |||
Enacted |
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100% zero-carbon power by 2045 | 100% clean energy by 2050 Establishing Policies
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|
Midwest | 2021 | ||
Enacted |
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Voluntary target of 10% clean energy by 2025 Establishing Policies
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|
Midwest | 2011 | ||
Enacted |
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105 megawatts (MW) of renewable generating capacity for IOUs Establishing Policies
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|
Midwest | 1983 | ||
Enacted |
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Voluntary targets that 20% of each investor-owned utilities (IOUs) peak demand be generated by renewable resources by 2020. Establishing Policies
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|
Midwest | 2015 | ||
Not Enacted |
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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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Enacted |
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80% renewable energy by 2030 | 100% by 2050 Establishing Policies
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|
Northeast | 2019 | ||
Enacted |
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30.5% renewable energy by 2020 | 50% by 2030 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Southeast | 2019 | ||
Enacted | Northeast | 2021 | |||
Enacted |
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15% renewable energy by 2027 | 50% by 2030 | 60% renewable and 80% clean energy by 2035 | 100% clean energy by 2040 Establishing Policies
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|
Midwest | 2023 | ||
Enacted |
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25% renewable energy by 2025 | 80% clean electricity for investor-owned utilities (IOUs), and 60% for munis and coops by 2030 | 55% renewable and 90% clean electricity by 2035 | 100% clean electricity by 2040 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Midwest | 2023 | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Enacted |
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15% renewable energy by 2021 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Midwest | 2007 | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
West | |||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
Midwest | |||
Enacted |
Empty column
50% renewable energy by 2030 | 100% carbon-free energy by 2050 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
West | 2019 | ||
Enacted |
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25.2% renewable energy by 2025 Establishing Policies
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|
Northeast | 2007 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
50% renewable energy by 2030 | 100% clean electricity by 2035 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Northeast | 2023 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
40% renewable energy by 2025 | 80% by 2040 | 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Southwest | 2019 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
70% renewable electricity by 2030 | 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Northeast | 2019 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
10% renewable energy by 2018 for munis and coops | 12.5% renewable energy by 2021 for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Southeast | 2007 | ||
Enacted | Midwest | 2007 | |||
Enacted | Midwest | 2019 | |||
Enacted | Southwest | 2010 | |||
Enacted |
Empty column
35% renewable energy by 2030 | 45% by 2035 | 50% by 2040 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
West | 2016 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
18% renewable energy by 2020-2021 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Northeast | 2004 | ||
Enacted | Northeast | 2022 | |||
Enacted | Southeast | 2014 | |||
Enacted | Midwest | 2008 | |||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Enacted |
Empty column
5,880 MW renewable energy by 2015 | 10,000 MW by 2025 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Southwest | 1999 | ||
Enacted | West | 2008 | |||
Enacted |
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63% renewable energy by 2025 | 100% by 2030 for utilities serving at least 75,000 customers | 100% by 2035 for utilities serving less than 75,000 customers Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Northeast | 2024 | ||
Enacted |
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100% renewable energy for Phase II Utilities by 2045 | 100% for Phase I Utilities by 2050 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Southeast | 2020 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
15% renewable energy by 2020 | 100% greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 | 100% renewable or zero-emitting energy by 2045 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
West | 2019 | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
Southeast | |||
Enacted |
Empty column
10% renewable energy by 2015 | 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050 Establishing Policies
Empty column
|
Midwest | 2019 | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
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. Empty column
|
West |