U.S. Climate Alliance announces new plan to decarbonize America
These installations will advance progress toward Alliance members’ goal of decarbonizing buildings, including collectively achieving zero-emission new construction as soon as practicable and accelerating efforts to eliminate emissions from existing buildings at a pace consistent with emissions targets under the Paris Agreement.
Today’s commitments were announced at a Climate Week NYC event featuring Alliance co-chair and founding member Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Alliance co-chair Maine Governor Janet Mills, Alliance co-chair elect New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.
“We are in a climate emergency and the window to act is closing. U.S. Climate Alliance states get that. That’s why we’re taking bold, immediate action by quadrupling heat pump installations by 2030,” said Governor Inslee. “Heat pumps are available and affordable, not to mention better for the air we breathe. So our commitment today is good for our planet, and for our people.”
“Transitioning to heat pumps in Maine is creating good-paying jobs, curbing our carbon emissions, cutting costs for families, and making people more comfortable in their homes,” said Governor Mills, who recently announced a new heat pump deployment goal for Maine.
“When I took office in 2019, I set a goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps in Maine by 2025. After reaching that goal two years ahead of schedule, we are now on our way to achieving our new target of 275,000 heat pump installations by the time I leave office in 2027. Maine is meeting our climate action goals, and we’re proud to lead the way as part of the U.S. Climate Alliance to encourage other states to do the same.”
“We can’t fight climate change alone. It’s critically important that we continue the transition to create an affordable clean energy future that benefits all New Yorkers,” said Governor Hochul.
“I am proud to stand side by side with my fellow Governors in the U.S. Climate Alliance to show our commitment to bold action to decarbonize the buildings sector. This coalition continues to prove that when we come together, we can make a greener future more equitable and accessible for all.”
“Combined with President Biden’s historic climate leadership, these bold commitments by governors to cut emissions from buildings will have a catalytic impact across America. It will clean up the air our children breathe, save hardworking families money on their monthly energy bills, strengthen America’s climate resilience, and create good-paying jobs in every corner of the country,” said White House National Climate Advisor Zaidi.
“Thanks to the Biden climate and economic agenda, we have for the first time the resources we need to transition America to a clean energy future and seize the opportunities that come with it. It’s good news for our economy and good news for our climate and energy security.”
As the
Alliance pursues building decarbonization efforts, members today also agreed
to:
- Support proactive planning for an
equitable and predictable transition to a zero-emission buildings future.
- Advance actions that ensure new
buildings lead the way to achieve long-term decarbonization goals,
including supporting the development of zero-emission building codes and
standards.
- Accelerate efficient, electric
retrofits that promote healthy homes and businesses, particularly for
low-income families that bear disproportionate cost and energy burdens.
- Pursue innovative solutions that
help mitigate volatile energy prices, enhance grid reliability, and
promote climate resilience.
- Prioritize equity with the aim of
ensuring at least 40 percent of benefits from building decarbonization
flow to disadvantaged communities.
- Build the workforce needed to
support the clean energy transition and drive the creation of good-paying,
career-pathway jobs.
- Maximize climate benefits of new
federal funds and programs under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including by identifying
opportunities to streamline incentives and educate consumers.
- Lead by example through efforts
to reduce emissions from state facilities.
Direct and indirect emissions from buildings account for more than 30 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonizing buildings through accelerated energy efficiency and electrification is an imperative not only to reduce emissions and achieve U.S. climate targets, but also to meaningfully improve indoor air quality and public health for families and communities. Heat pumps can play a critical role, providing energy-efficient heating and cooling that reduce emissions from homes and businesses.
To
further advance and accelerate building decarbonization efforts, several groups
of Alliance members made additional commitments today, including:
- Ten members will explore the
adoption of zero-emission standards for space and water heating equipment
(CA, CT, HI, MA, MD, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA).
- Eight members will explore the
adoption of Building Performance Standards like those enacted in CO, MD,
OR, and WA (CA, CT, HI, MA, ME, NY, PA, RI).
- Eight members will explore the
development of clean heat standards (CT, HI, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, RI).
- Five members will work to phase
out fossil fuel heating and cooling in new construction by 2027 (CA, MA,
MD, NY, WA).
- Twelve members will support the
development and adoption of advanced energy-efficient building codes that
maximize opportunities for efficient electrification and support solar and
electric vehicle readiness (CA, CO, CT, MA, MD, ME, NM, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA).
- Ten members will take actions to
align buildings sector utility resource planning and procurement policies
with state climate goals (CA, CT, HI, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OR, RI, WA).
- Two members will become partners in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, joining MD and other partners in committing to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions from state facilities by at least 50 percent in the next 10 years (HI, ME).
This work, which will be customized by members to meet their individual needs and timelines, builds on and complements the Alliance’s convening with the White House in May and the Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership launched in March to bolster state and federal efforts to decarbonize buildings, as well as the coalition’s collective commitment at COP26 to advance policy pathways and programs to eliminate emissions from buildings.
Additionally, this announcement complements President Biden’s historic commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50-52% by 2030 and achieve overall net-zero emissions by 2050.
For
more information on the high-impact actions members are taking to decarbonize
buildings, please visit the Alliance’s Buildings Policy Priority page on
its new website and first-of-its-kind Climate Policy Database launched earlier this year.