Good News from the States on Climate
After the initial onslaught of attacks by the new Trump Administration against all forms of clean energy and efforts to fight climate change, we are beginning to see some good results from states fighting Trump’s attacks on clean energy.
North Carolina and the S-Line Passenger Rail
In North Carolina, a major new passenger rail link between Raleigh and Richmond was approved in 2024 by the US Dept. of Transportation (USDOT). The S-Line will receive over $1 billion in funding from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. When completed, it will provide low-emissions rapid direct transit between the two states’ capitals and overall shortened transit time from North Carolina to Washington, Philadelphia, and New York.
Like many such projects, its federal funding was frozen by the incoming Trump Administration. However, NC Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) officials now say that work has not stopped on the S-Line. They expect that the funding freeze will be lifted soon enough to meet the target 2030 finish date. “It’s just the normal process of finishing out the particular language of the agreements, giving them all the forms that they require and then following through on the process,” said NCDOT rail division director Jason Orthner.
New York and Empire Wind
In New York, the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind energy project has restarted construction. The Empire Wind project is fully permitted and had already started construction before it was frozen by Trump Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. The move was alarming to wind and other clean energy businesses and advocates, since they believed fully permitted projects under construction were protected from the Trump anti-wind agenda. Advocates celebrated the news that the freeze was lifted and work restarted. The project, located off Long Island, will power 500,000 homes and support thousands of high-paying union jobs in New York.
“Sanity returns. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s unnecessary delay of Empire Wind simply made no sense. As Governor Hochul rightly noted, the federal government should be supporting projects that bring more abundant, affordable energy to New York—not standing in their way. Her efforts to get the project restarted were clearly essential to getting this much needed project back on track,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “All New Yorkers who want to breathe clean air should celebrate this fresh start for the Empire Wind project. The project will help to make our electricity bills more affordable and keep New York’s electric grid stronger. Governor Hochul has shown the depth of her commitment to clean and affordable energy through her tenacious and successful efforts to rescue Empire Wind.”
“We thank Governor Hochul for leading the fight to lift the stop-work order on the Empire Wind project,” agreed New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) President Julie Tighe. “Offshore wind is key to reducing pollution, strengthening our grid, and securing long-term energy independence. At a time when the federal government is baselessly attacking an entire industry, this is exactly the kind of leadership we need. Governor Hochul stood up for what’s right and got this vital project back on track.”
Texas Anti-Renewables Bill Dies in State House
In Texas, opposition from business interests and pro-renewable energy conservatives managed to stop an attempt by oil- and gas-funded right-wing advocacy groups to kill the state’s wind and solar energy boom. After passing the Texas State Senate, the package of bills died in the Texas State House after opponents managed to hold it past a key action deadline prior to the legislative session’s adjournment.
“The fight in Texas echoed a similar fight in Washington, where red-state senators whose districts have benefited from billions in clean energy investment are now pushing back against a House-passed bill that seeks to eliminate Biden-era tax credits that incentivized that spending. In the Lone Star State, the fight has been an understated victory for the renewables industry. Taken together, the package of bills sought to impose strict limitations on the state’s nation-leading renewables program. They were backed by far-right advocacy groups but opposed by significant factions of the state’s business lobby.”
Cheers to many more such victories at the state and local levels, and may they be an omen of success in Washington as well.
