Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

“Our coverage has shown that states are taking a proactive approach in reaching Renewables Portfolio Standards, despite the shift in focus from policy makers at the federal level,” Nick Kapur, senior director of energy at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said in a statement.

But while the trend towards clean, distributed, and mobile energy resources is “well underway and recognized,” said Kapur, “industry stakeholders are still grappling with how to restructure their business models, redesign their regulatory processes, and establish new infrastructure requirements needed to power the grid of the future.”

Of the 59 state policies enacted, nine were solar-related, four efficiency, three natural gas, five energy storage and two nuclear. S&P identified nine initiatives as “regulatory-related” and 14 as being focused on renewables.

The active state policy discussions come in the wake of President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and to rewrite the Clean Power Plan.

States involved in the U.S. Climate Alliance include Washington, New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia, along with Puerto Rico. In addition, more than 200 mayors have committed to the goals of the Paris accord.