Clean Energy
In 2017, after the Trump administration announced its intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) launched a nationwide climate change program in partnership with organizational partners like Sierra Club, RMI, World Resources Institute, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, deploying lawyers across the country to help American cities convert to 100% renewable energy with a goal of meeting and beating the Paris Accord in the absence of good federal government.
When aggregated, cities around the world are some of the largest consumers of energy and emitters of greenhouse gases. Mobilizing a team of over 125,000 legal advocates to help local governments shift to 100% renewable energy will make a massive impact on meeting Biden’s pledge to reach 50% of 2005 emissions levels. L4GG’s Clean Energy Program is all about helping state and local governments reach 100% renewable energy as quickly as possible, as equitably as possible.
Since its inception, L4GG has created invaluable resources and provided training to help cities across the country find a path to 100% renewable energy. To date, L4GG has completed 13 State Profiles and trained more than 60 cities from 12 different states on the legality of new climate tools like Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) to meet aggressive climate targets. This work is having an impact. Just one VPPA has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 55,986+ metric tons annually (roughly equivalent to taking 12,176 gas vehicles off the road!) Many of the cities L4GG has trained are working to implement this new tool to increase demand for renewable energy, which is literally moving markets.
In 2021, President Joe Biden re-entered the United States into the Paris Agreement while signaling the federal government’s renewed commitment to serious climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental justice action. While serious federal-level action is crucial, so too is continued leadership by cities, states, and the private sector. Working with national partners like RMI, WRI, Southeast Sustainability Directors Network, and other grassroots partners, L4GG will continue to support local governments and public bodies shifting to 100% renewable energy.
L4GG’s program has been designed to leverage its vast national network of legal advocates to provide critical resources to expedite the country’s shift to clean energy in an equitable way, ensuring the most vulnerable communities are protected first. For example, we’re currently working with grassroots partners to establish a funding clinic to help underserved municipalities find the necessary funding to implement the climate tools like VPPAs, electrifying municipal fleets, urban forestry projects, etc. to make sure these communities are not left behind in the shift to a green economy.
State Profile Documents:
Our first set of documents, called “state profiles,” were researched and prepared by L4GG’s volunteer lawyers in support of the Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” Campaign to help municipalities shift to renewable energy (click here to learn more about this program).
Each state profile provides a general overview of policies affecting local renewable energy policy in that particular state, including issues like Dillon versus Home Rule, the authority and procedures of the state’s public utility commission (if one exists), case examples of franchise agreements, green tariffs, etc. While not legal advice, each profile provides helpful background on existing policies that may affect a local municipality’s path to renewable energy.
We hope these profiles further expedite the nationwide shift towards 100% renewable energy. Without federal support on climate change policy, it’s up to all of us to protect our planet for future generations.
(to view state profiles, click the state name below and enter your email address when prompted)
Our first set of documents, called “state profiles,” were researched and prepared by L4GG’s volunteer lawyers in support of the Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” Campaign to help municipalities shift to renewable energy (click here to learn more about this program).
Each state profile provides a general overview of policies affecting local renewable energy policy in that particular state, including issues like Dillon versus Home Rule, the authority and procedures of the state’s public utility commission (if one exists), case examples of franchise agreements, green tariffs, etc. While not legal advice, each profile provides helpful background on existing policies that may affect a local municipality’s path to renewable energy.
We hope these profiles further expedite the nationwide shift towards 100% renewable energy. Without federal support on climate change policy, it’s up to all of us to protect our planet for future generations.
(to view state profiles, click the state name below and enter your email address when prompted)