Clean energy milestones

NJPIRG wins incentives for residential solar

1978

NJPIRG wins residential solar energy tax incentives law

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MoPIRG helps tenants weatherize their apartments

1985

MoPIRG’s Community Energy Program helps tenants in Missouri weatherize their apartments

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MASSPIRG wins efficiency standards for appliances

1986

MASSPIRG wins passage of Appliance Energy Standards Efficiency Law

MPIRG wins back solar tax credits

1989

MPIRG lawsuit reinstates $650,000 in tax credits to Minnesotans who install solar energy equipment

Winning national appliance efficiency standards

1992

U.S. PIRG supports passage of federal home appliance efficiency law

MoPIRG wins building energy efficiency plan

1993

MoPIRG wins energy efficiency plan for Missouri buildings

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Getting Florida utilities to improve efficiency

1994

Florida PIRG wins program to encourage utilities to improve efficiency

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$1 billion for efficiency, renewables in NJ

1999

NJPIRG wins $1 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy

MASSPIRG wins renewable energy requirement

2001

MASSPIRG helps win minimum renewable energy requirement for Massachusetts energy mix

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Defending efficiency, renewables funding in Oregon

2001

OSPIRG helps defend funding for renewable energy and efficiency measures

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CALPIRG wins 20% clean power by 2017

2002

CALPIRG and our coalition helps craft and pass the California Clean Energy Act, a groundbreaking law that requires most utilities in the state to produce 20% of their electricity from clean power by 2017

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Defeating polluting energy in Congress

2002

Our national network helps defeat harmful energy bills passed by both houses of Congress, which would have built more dirty power plants and increased taxpayer handouts to oil, coal and nuclear companies.

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Efficiency, renewables in New Hampshire

2002

NHPIRG helps win focus on renewables and efficiency in New Hampshire’s first 10-year energy plan.

Renewable energy requirements for New Mexico

2002

NMPIRG helps win renewable portfolio standard for New Mexico.

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ConnPIRG wins appliance efficiency standards

2004

ConnPIRG helps win new energy efficiency standards for many common appliances — with expected savings of $380 million on energy bills by 2020.

Colorado increases renewable energy sourcing

2004

Environment Colorado helps pass Amendment 37, requiring 3 percent of electricity in Colorado to come from renewable sources by 2007 and 10 percent by 2015.

Maryland PIRG secures renewable power requirement

2004

Backed by Maryland PIRG, the Maryland Clean Energy Bill is signed into law by Gov. Robert Ehrlich, requiring utilities to use 7.5% renewable energy by 2018.

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RIPIRG helps win state renewables commitment

2004

With the Rhode Island Climate Coalition, RIPIRG helps pass a bill requiring the state to get 16% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Product efficiency standards in Arizona

2005

Gov. Janet Napolitano signs Arizona PIRG-backed legislation that sets minimum energy efficiency standards for 12 products.

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15% renewable by 2015 in Montana

2005

MontPIRG achieves a major clean energy victory with the passage of Montana’s 15% by 2015 Renewable Energy Standard through the state Legislature.

Boosting credits for Oregon home solar

2005

OSPIRG helps win the passage of a bill that quadruples the tax credit Oregonians can take when they purchase solar panels.

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Sparking green power explosion in Texas

2005

TexPIRG helps pass SB 20, which amended the Texas renewable portfolio standard to give Texas the second-highest renewable energy standard in the nation.

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Goal: A million California solar roofs

2006

CALPIRG successfully passes the Million Solar Roofs bill, giving solar owners a credit for excess solar power generated by their systems, and making solar power a standard option on all new homes.

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Rewiring Washington for clean power

2006

WashPIRG helps convince voters to approve I-937, which requires utilities to get at least 15% of their power from renewable energy by 2020 and to provide more energy conservation programs for customers.

Wisconsin Environment wins strong renewable standard

2006

Wisconsin Environment helps pass a policy requiring that 10% of Wisconsin's energy come from renewable sources by 2015.

More incentives for efficiency in Colorado

2007

CoPIRG plays a key role in passing a new law that directs the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to establish energy-saving goals and provide positive financial incentives for utility-run energy efficiency programs

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Illinois' new efficiency, clean power standards

2007

Environment Illinois helps pass renewable energy and energy efficiency standards requiring electric utilities to utilize energy efficiency and load management investment, and to adopt the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code for new home construction.

NCPIRG saves state $500m on energy

2007

NCPIRG helps pass renewable energy and efficiency standard in the state Legislature — projected to save consumers $577 million over its life and generate 2.7K more jobs per year.

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Ramping up efficiency in Texas

2007

Environment Texas helps pass a bill to double electric utilities' mandated investments in energy-efficiency programs and create a tax holiday for consumers to purchase Energy Star high-efficiency products.

The Bay State goes green

2008

Environment Massachusetts helps to completely overhaul the Green Communities Act to cut energy waste and require that Massachusetts get at least 15% of its energy from green sources by 2020.

An efficiency goal saving Maryland billions

2008

Maryland PIRG leads the effort to enact a statewide energy efficiency goal that ensures utility companies will help consumers save electricity. By meeting the goal, Maryland consumers will save $4.1 billion on energy costs.

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The Buckeye State boosts renewables

2008

Environment Ohio helps pass one of the strongest clean energy bills in the country, which mandates that 12.5% of Ohio’s energy must come from clean, renewable sources — such as wind and solar power — by 2025, and reduce overall energy consumption by 22%.

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Major efficiency win in Arizona

2010

Thanks in part to Arizona PIRG Education Fund’s reports and testimony, we're able to convince the Arizona Corporation Commission to unanimously approve a 22% energy efficiency standard.

Environment Colorado bumps up renewables standard

2010

Environment Colorado caps off the 2010 legislative session by passing our network's 56th clean energy bill in the last four years, raising Colorado's clean energy goal to 30% by 2020.

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Clearing the way for solar in IL

2010

Environment Illinois passes a bill that updates the renewable energy standard, requiring that 6% of the state's renewable energy be generated by solar photovoltaics by 2016. A second bill, the Homeowners’ Solar Right Act, clarifies the rights of homeowners’ and condo associations to install solar panels.

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A big offshore wind win in NJ

2010

Gov. Chris Christie signs a groundbreaking Environment New Jersey-backed bill to encourage the development of wind turbines off the Jersey Shore, which could generate enough electricity to power roughly 350,000 New Jersey homes.

Halving oil use in Maine

2011

A new law, spearheaded by Environment Maine, sets ambitious goals to cut Maine’s oil use 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2050, and requires the state to develop a comprehensive plan to achieve those goals.

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Colorado: More renewables for local utilities

2013

Environment Colorado helps pass SB 252 — legislation that increases the renewable energy standard for rural co-ops and municipal utilities (which make up 40% of the state’s energy use) to 20% by 2020.

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Atlanta commits to 100% renewable energy

2017

Environment Georgia succeeds in passing a resolution through the Atlanta City Council that commits the city to getting 100% of its electricity from clean and renewable sources by 2035.

Giant leap as California goes 100%

2018

In September, as Environment California’s Dan Jacobson looks on, Gov. Jerry Brown signs Senate Bill 100 into law. The bill commits the world’s fifth largest economy to 60% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045.

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50 by '30 in the Garden State

2018

The New Jersey Legislature passes and Gov. Murphy signs a bill to get New Jersey to 50% renewable energy by 2030.

PennEnvironment helps win increased solar production

2018

PennEnvironment wins a new law to increase solar production in Pennsylvania.

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50 by 30 in Maryland

2019

On May 22, the Environment Maryland-backed Clean Energy Jobs Act passes, mandating that Maryland electricity providers get at least 50% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and calling on the state to create a plan to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2040.

Maine goes 100%

2019

Environment Maine helps increase the state's renewable electricity standard to 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

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New Mexico goes 100%

2019

The groundbreaking, Environment New Mexico-backed Energy Transition Act sets new standards requiring New Mexico utilities to get at least 50% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to be 100% carbon-free by 2045.

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Washington goes 100%

2019

Gov. Jay Inslee signs the 100% clean electricity bill (spearheaded by Environment Washington) into law, requiring utilities to obtain 100% of their electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045. The law also requires the elimination of coal-powered electricity from the grid by 2030.

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Virginia goes 100%

2020

Environment Virginia helps pass the Virginia Clean Economy Act, setting Virginia up to become the seventh state in the country to make a statewide commitment to 100% clean energy.

New Jersey ups offshore wind energy.

2021

New Jersey commits to 2,658 megawatts of offshore wind energy, putting New Jersey on track to reach their goal of 7,500 MW by 2035.

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Oregon commits to 100 percent clean energy.

2021

Oregon commits to 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. The commitment makes Oregon tied with New York for the fastest transition to clean power.

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Tampa makes 100 percent renewable commitment.

2021

Tampa, Florida commits to 100 percent renewable energy sourcing by 2035. Tampa is the largest of 11 other Florida cities with similarly bold commitments.

NJPIRG wins incentives for residential solar

MoPIRG helps tenants weatherize their apartments

MASSPIRG wins efficiency standards for appliances

MPIRG wins back solar tax credits

Winning national appliance efficiency standards

MoPIRG wins building energy efficiency plan

Getting Florida utilities to improve efficiency

$1 billion for efficiency, renewables in NJ

MASSPIRG wins renewable energy requirement

Defending efficiency, renewables funding in Oregon

CALPIRG wins 20% clean power by 2017

Defeating polluting energy in Congress

Efficiency, renewables in New Hampshire

Renewable energy requirements for New Mexico

ConnPIRG wins appliance efficiency standards

Colorado increases renewable energy sourcing

Maryland PIRG secures renewable power requirement

RIPIRG helps win state renewables commitment

Product efficiency standards in Arizona

15% renewable by 2015 in Montana

Boosting credits for Oregon home solar

Sparking green power explosion in Texas

Goal: A million California solar roofs

Rewiring Washington for clean power

Wisconsin Environment wins strong renewable standard

More incentives for efficiency in Colorado

Illinois' new efficiency, clean power standards

NCPIRG saves state $500m on energy

Ramping up efficiency in Texas

The Bay State goes green

An efficiency goal saving Maryland billions

The Buckeye State boosts renewables

Major efficiency win in Arizona

Environment Colorado bumps up renewables standard

Clearing the way for solar in IL

A big offshore wind win in NJ

Halving oil use in Maine

Colorado: More renewables for local utilities

Atlanta commits to 100% renewable energy

Giant leap as California goes 100%

50 by '30 in the Garden State

PennEnvironment helps win increased solar production

50 by 30 in Maryland

Maine goes 100%

New Mexico goes 100%

Washington goes 100%

Virginia goes 100%

New Jersey ups offshore wind energy.

Oregon commits to 100 percent clean energy.

Tampa makes 100 percent renewable commitment.

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