FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2019

CONTACT: Kristin Igusky | kigusky@usclimatealliance.org

Bipartisan Climate Alliance expands to 22 governors, representing 50% of U.S. population and over half of national GDP

Maine Governor Janet Mills today announced her plans to join the U.S. Climate Alliance. She stated that “Today I am excited to announce that Maine is now the 22nd member-state of the United States Climate Alliance. While the federal government ignores its responsibility to combat climate change, Maine will work with states across the country to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Climate Accord.”

By joining the Alliance, governors commit to:

· Implement policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emission by at least 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025

· Track and report progress to the global community in appropriate settings, including when the world convenes to take stock of the Paris Agreement, and

· Accelerate new and existing policies to reduce carbon pollution and promote clean energy deployment at the state and federal level.

With Maine as its newest member, the Alliance represents half (50 percent) of the U.S. population and nearly an $11 trillion economy. The climate and clean energy policies of these states have created 1.6 million renewable energy and energy efficiency jobs, equivalent to over half of all clean energy jobs in the United States. The climate and clean energy policies Alliance states have put into place cover 35 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Governor Mills also announced this morning that in the coming weeks her administration will introduce legislation to create the Maine Climate Council. The Climate Council will consist of commissioners and key state leaders, science and technical experts, non-profit leaders, and representatives of climate-impacted industries. It will be established in statute, solicit public input, and will report regularly to the public on progress toward goals. The Council will lead efforts to reduce Maine greenhouse gas emissions. And, with the Council’s leadership, Maine will achieve 80 percent renewable energy in our electricity sector by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.

U.S. Climate Alliance Executive Director Julie Cerqueira welcomed Governor Mills’ announcement, noting, “Climate Change poses a real threat to Maine’s communities and economy. The Northeast region is already seeing increases in coastal flooding and extreme precipitation. By joining the U.S. Climate Alliance, Governor Mills is setting the stage for Maine to lead on climate action through priorities like investing in local renewable energy production and enhancing the state’s natural and working lands.”

The Alliance was formed in June 2017 in response to President Trump’s announced intent to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. Each state commits to reducing their emissions in line with the U.S. target under Paris, and all have enacted new climate policy measures since joining the Alliance. In September, the Alliance announced a suite of new commitments, including the deployment of $1.4 billion to decarbonize transportation and take steps to protect natural and working lands as carbon sinks by 2020.

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The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of 22 governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Hawaii | Illinois | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Puerto Rico | Rhode Island | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin