Empower Policymakers to Integrate Decarbonization and Justice in Energy Decisions

Policymakers must revise the authorities of Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) to include considerations of decarbonization and equity in their decision-making processes. While a growing number of states have established clean energy targets, the lack of authority for PUCs to prioritize environmental justice and decarbonization limits progress. Currently, only a few states grant PUCs the mandate to consider these essential factors alongside reliability, cost, and safety. This represents a significant opportunity for states to enhance legislation by explicitly incorporating decarbonization and justice into the energy decision-making framework.