Milestones: Clean energy standards gain in 29 states

A dream put on hold

The future of clean energy appeared bright at the Democratic National Convention in 1980.

Driven by the PIRG-organized Campaign for Safe Energy and championed by U.S. Sen. (then-Rep.) Ed Markey (Mass.), delegates at the convention approved a plank in the party’s platform calling for a $100 billion investment over five years to achieve a goal of 20% solar energy by the year 2000.

The election of Ronald Reagan put that dream on hold — and even brought down the solar panels that President Jimmy Carter had installed on the White House roof. Federal support for clean energy under Reagan withered.

A new idea spreads across the nation

Slowly, however, renewable energy came back to life across America, a reawakening due in large part to policies that only a true clean energy wonk could love: state renewable portfolio standards.

Starting in Iowa in 1983, the idea began to spread, with help from clean energy advocates with state PIRGs and, later, Environment America and its state environmental groups. By 2020, 29 states had set concrete, and often steadily rising, goals for renewable energy. In 19 of these states, driven by the leadership of our top energy advocate, Rob Sargent, our advocates played key roles in winning approval of the standards or expanding them.

We celebrated each success, but to be clear these policies were not the stuff of headline news — until, that is, a new energy crisis hit California in 2001 and, for the first time ever, renewable energy appeared on a statewide ballot, in Colorado in 2004.

Confronting a crisis in California

In 2001, after California deregulated its electricity market, the energy-trading firm Enron saw an opportunity to create artificial shortages and jack up rates. Rolling blackouts darkened the state’s homes. Utilities went bankrupt.

In the early days of the crisis, Gov. Gray Davis signaled his approval for dozens of new gas-fired power plants, a move that would have left the state more dependent on dirty energy for decades.

Dan Jacobson, a young advocate with CALPIRG, had an alternative plan: double the state’s commitment to clean, renewable power.

Dan and his CALPIRG colleagues convened a panel of economists to discuss the economic benefits of clean energy; released reports showing that California could generate 25% of its energy from wind, solar and other clean, renewable sources within a decade and highlighting the dangers of increased dependence on natural gas; built grassroots support across the state; and requested that the state devote a $5 billion bond to clean energy.

In 2002, Gov. Davis shifted his position, authorizing the expenditure of the majority of the $5 billion bond on clean energy and endorsing and eventually signing the Clean Energy Bill, committing California to obtain 20% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2017.

The goal meant that California would produce more renewable energy than all 49 other states combined.

Putting energy on the ballot in Colorado

More than a year later in Colorado, an effort to convince state lawmakers to pass a similar Clean Energy Bill fell short — for the fourth time.

Matt Baker, then executive director of the newly formed Environment Colorado (now the deputy secretary of energy in California), faced a choice: Make a fifth try to convince the Legislature to pass the bill or take the risker, costlier option of bringing the issue before the state’s voters.

Matt made the right call. Despite a full-scale attack on the initiative waged by Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility, on November 2, 2004, Colorado voters approved the nation’s first renewable energy ballot question, transforming the politics of energy in the state.

Lawmakers have since increased the state’s renewable energy goals three times. By 2019, Colorado was generating 25% of its electricity from renewable sources. And Xcel had committed to going 100% carbon-free by 2050.

About this series: PIRG, Environment America and The Public Interest Network have achieved much more than we can cover on this page. You can find more milestones of our work on clean energy below. You can also explore an interactive timeline featuring more of our network’s clean energy milestones.