ProGov21 Policy Library

The Power and Limits of Shareholder Advocacy with Fossil Fuel Companies

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level County, City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Green Century Funds

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy, Finance & Procurement

A growing number of individuals and institutions have recognized the limits of shareholder advocacy to secure the policy changes needed and have divested from fossil fuel companies. Green Century believes that divesting from fossil fuel companies is the most effective way for investors...

Model Resolution Divesting from Fossil Fuel Companies

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2014

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

This resolution applied to cities that do not control the Pension Board and do not otherwise invest in fossil fuel stocks. It declares the city's commitment to divest from publicly‐traded fossil fuel companies....

2009 City of Gainesville Ordinance No. 0-08-88 Solar Energy

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2009

Level City or Town

State(s) Florida

Source Gainesville City Council

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy, Housing

This ordinance amends the Gainesville Code of Ordinances to add provisions for the purchase of solar generated energy through a standard offer contract for all classes and limits net metering distributed resource rates for general service and large power classes. This amendment adds...

Climate Empowerment in Madison

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town

State(s) Tennessee, Wisconsin

Source Mayor’s Innovation Project

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Health

The air quality in a community impacts every living thing, but most community members do not think about it on a daily basis. Local elected officials have a responsibility to engage their communities, improve public health, and leverage federal clean energy initiatives on behalf of...

Expanding Access to Electric Vehicles in California’s Low-Income Communities

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level State

State(s) California

Source Journal of Science Policy & Governance

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Energy, Transportation & Mobility

Following the 2020 executive order from California to have all new passenger vehicles be zero-emission by 2035, the paper outlines the ways to expand access to electric vehicles (EV) to low-income Californians. For the state to meet its clean energy goals, it must include these communities...

Clean Energy

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2017

Level County, City or Town

State(s) All States

Source State Innovation Exchange

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy, Health, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Community Development, Public Spaces, Democracy & Governance

A majority of Americans across party lines support action to address climate change and promote clean energy. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has taken a page from the establishment playbook and set up its federal agencies to do the bidding of polluters by taking us back to...

California's Climate Investment: 10 Case Studies Reducing Poverty & Pollution

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2015

Level Other Boards and Agencies

State(s) California

Source The Greenlining Institute

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

To evaluate initial success of California's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program in assisting underserved communities tackle climate change, the Greenlining Institute examined 10 projects: nine already funded and one that is eligible for funding. These case studies provide an early...

Solar-Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source U.S. Department Of Energy

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

This report serves as a resource for local governments and stakeholders in designing and implementing a local solar plan. The report includes examples and models that have been field-tested in cities and counties around the United States....

Good Jobs in a Clean Energy Economy Through The Clean Power Plan

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2016

Level City or Town, State

State(s) California, New York, Oregon

Source Partnership for Working Families

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Energy

This toolkit discusses strategies that deliver high quality jobs with career pathways accessible to workers in low-income communities and communities of color. As the primary implementers of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), state governments play a critical role in ensuring that the expansion...

The 2019 City Clean Energy Scorecard

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2019

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

The 2019 City Clean Energy Scorecard ranks 75 cities in the U.S. on their efforts to achieve a clean energy future by improving energy efficiency and scaling up renewable energy. The report compiles data on local policies and actions to advance clean energy, comparing cities across...

Model Amendment to a Zoning Ordinance or By-Law: Allowing Conditional Use of Wind Energy Facilities

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2011

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

This model ordinance or zoning by-law aims to assist cities and towns in establishing reasonable standards for wind power development. It details the general requirements for all wind energy facilities, as they relate to design standards, safety and environmental standards, maintenance...

Phoenix Sustainable Purchasing Policy

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2017

Level City or Town

State(s) Arizona

Source City of Phoenix

Policy Areas Finance & Procurement

In accordance with the 2007 City Council Resolution #20519, this policy requires the City of Phoenix to purchase products and services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products or services that serve the same purpose, while...

Model Ordinance: Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2014

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

This act requires that a municipal public fund create a list of fossil fuel companies that match specific criteria, divest all holdings from the companies on this list over a 3-year period, and reinvest funds in socially responsible investments that satisfy prudent person standards....

Climate Change Fact Sheets

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2020

Level National, State

State(s) All States

Source Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Carbon dioxide pipelines, carbon capture and storage technologies, and liquified natural gas terminals are regulated by federal and state agencies across the country. These fact sheets provide useful information and guidance for local community members who want to get involved in...

Paying For Water Systems

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2019

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement

Many public water utilities struggle to pay for repairs and upgrades necessary to improve energy efficiency, reduce leaks, and prevent infiltration. This brief outlines existing mechanisms to raise these funds as well as promising new methods for public officials to consider. Some...

2006 Boulder Carbon Tax Ordinance 7483

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2006

Level City or Town

State(s) Colorado

Source City Council of the City of Boulder

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement

This ordinance imposes the Climate Action Plan Tax as an excise tax upon persons consuming electricity as residential, commercial, or industrial customers. The tax shall be imposed upon the basis of each customer’s consumption of electricity measured in Kilowatt/Hours. The purpose...

Model Resolution Declaring a City's Commitment to Not Invest in Fossil Fuels

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2014

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

This resolution applies to cities that do not currently invest in fossil fuel stock. It declares the intent of a city without fossil fuel investments to refrain from investing in fossil fuel companies in the future....

The Path to Carbon Dioxide-Free Power: Switching to Clean Energy in the Utility Sector

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2003

Level National

State(s) All States

Source Tellus Institute

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources

This report explores a range of national policies to increase energy efficiency, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy technologies and shift energy use to more efficient power systems while reducing the electricity bills of consumers and businesses. The policies considered...

The Power of Community Utilities

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2022

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source Democracy Collaborative

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Utility companies often delay or even prevent against the transition to clean energy, causing environmental damage and directly harming low-income communities. Community utilities-publicly and cooperatively owned electric utilities-can help lead the transition towards an equitable,...

2020 San Francisco Ordinance 190972 Mandating All Electric Energy Sources In Future Capital Projects

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2020

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

This ordinance prohibits the installation of propane or natural gas-based plumbing or equipment when constructing or renovating municipal buildings. Instead, these buildings should shift to an all-electric system, meaning they use a permanent source of electricity as the source of...

The Power of Sustainable Purchasing

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

Companies, governments, and institutions of all kinds purchase goods and services for their own use. But what they buy - and how they buy it - has a significant impact on local communities, the environment, and the economy - and in some unexpected ways, on the success of the business...

Carbon Pricing & Equity

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2016

Level County

State(s) All States

Source State Innovation Exchange

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Energy, Health, Community Development, Public Spaces, Democracy & Governance

Carbon pricing is one major set of market mechanisms that states can use to promote the advancement of clean energy adoption. Whether a state or region chooses to implement a cap-and-trade, carbon tax, or some other mechanism, it is critical that issues of equity and justice for the...

Institutional Pathways to Fossil-Free Investing

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Tellus Institute

Policy Areas Finance & Procurement, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Energy

In the face of increasing demands from students and other stakeholders concerned about the role of traditional energy companies in accelerating climate change, institutional investors are asking tough questions about the feasibility of divestment from fossil fuel companies. Based...

Boulder Ordinance Imposing a Climate Action Plan Excise Tax

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2012

Level City or Town

State(s) Colorado

Source City of Boulder

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement

This ordinance seeks to raise revenue to implement the City's Climate Action Plan, including incentives, services and other assistance to Boulder residents and businesses to improve energy efficiency, expand the use of renewable energy, and take other necessary steps toward reducing...

Shining a Light on Equitable Solar Energy: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Opportunities for Business Participation in Community Solar

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) All States

Source Journal of Science Policy & Governance

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Energy

Enabling community solar projects is an underutilized strategy for increasing renewable energy generation and offers potential solutions for addressing disparities in solar energy distribution. This policy brief identifies the need for community solar programs and recommends modifying...

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