Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms

The Democrats victory on Nov. 3 could usher in a clean energy revolution in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control, and have now elected democrats to their respective legislative chambers and governor’s mansions. 

Erik Kanter, the policy director for the nonprofit Clean Wisconsin, believes Democratic control will allow the state to pass a bill requiring data centers to source their energy from clean sources, and push utilities to invest in clean energy sources rather than extend the lifespan of coal and gas plants. Over in Arizona, legislators also hope to nudge their utilities toward clean energy, and pass a bill to regulate groundwater pumping, Jake Bittle writes for Grist.

Finally, in Pennsylvania, legislators hope to pass a bill to establish water and energy efficiency standards for appliances and create new laws to allow community and warehouse rooftop solar. Grist reports: “You don’t want to let yourself fully imagine what it can be, because you’ve been let down in the past,” said Lindsey Williams, a state senator who represents a swath of the Pittsburgh metro area. “Now we’re in that moment of, wow, there’s so many things that we can accomplish.”