How US states are leading the climate fight – despite Trump’s rollbacks

Some state leaders are preparing to legally challenge the president’s environmental rollbacks, while others are testifying against them in Congress .

Advocates are pushing for states to meet their ambitious climate goals using methods and technologies that don’t require federal support.

New York signed an ambitious 2019 mandate to obtain 70% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030 .

California sued federal officials 123 times between 2017 and 2021 .

Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders are planning to allocate $ 50 m in state money to fund the legal costs of fighting against Trump ’s administration.

Rhode Island passed a bill requiring that by 2033 , the state must procure 100% energy from renewable energy.

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided record-breaking incentives in tax credits for companies to build wind, solar, and other carbon-free technologies.

No Republicans on Capitol Hill voted for the bill, but red districts benefited most from those monies.

Trump last week froze the distribution of unspent IRA funds, but Republican states aren’t giving up without a fight.