Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
The incoming majority in U.S. House of Representatives is not the only place that will have more climate and clean energy champions than ever before next year -- a historic number of Governors will come into office in 2019 backing a transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. That’s not the only place clean energy cleaned up -- several state legislature wins set the stage for progress, hundreds of ballot measures passed locally that will accelerate our transition to clean transportation, and in the West, campaigning on protecting public lands helped lead candidates to victory.
Here’s a few highlights you may have missed:
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Gubernatorial winners Jared Polis of Colorado, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Janet Mills of Maine, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Kate Brown of Oregon, and Tony Evers of Wisconsin all vowed to transition their states to 100% clean energy. In California, governor-elect Gavin Newsom has said he was proud to see current Governor Jerry Brown (D) sign law planning to produce all of the state's power from clean energy by 2045.
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In Illinois, Pritzker won on a platform of 100% clean energy, and has talked openly about the need for coal transition in Illinois. Statewide, Illinois elected 17 climate champions who all ran on a platform of 100% clean energy.
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In New Hampshire, Democrats took control of both houses, easing the path for the state to enjoy the full range of benefits from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
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In Nevada’s Senate race, democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, who campaigned on protecting public lands, defeated incumbent republican Sen. Dean Heller easily. In New Mexico, the same is true for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham who defeated Republican Rep. Steve Pearce. Lujan Grisham campaigned on supporting public lands and national monuments while Pearce campaigned on cutting national monuments. In Nevada, democratic Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak won his bid for governor by campaigning in support of the Gold Butte National Monument and protecting public lands.
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Ballot measures across the country secured more than $50 billion in transportation investments, including roads and bridges, public transit, cycling and pedestrian paths, airports, seaports, and more.
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In what is typically deep red Nebraska, Sierra Club-endorsed-candidates Janece Mollhoff, Eric Williams, and Amanda Bogner, who campaigned on an aggressive push toward clean energy, are the projected winners of their bids to join the Omaha Public Power District Board. The three will now ensure a strong majority of clean energy champions as Omaha Public Power District looks to set long-term goals for clean energy in a state that continues to lag behind its neighbors in clean energy growth.
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With the passing of Question 6 in Nevada, the state will increase its clean energy standard to 50% by 2030.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.