Environment America study shows the big impact of state-level efficiency

Here at 1Sky, our focus is usually on pushing for strong federal action on climate change. The U.S. government, with Congress leading the way, is notoriously slow to take any action on issues this big. Before we get frustrated thinking that slowness on the national level is keeping any progress from being made, it's important to take notice of all the big things that are being done at state and city levels.

The New York Times published a great editorial yesterday discussing how cities and state governments across the country are leading the way on making America run cleaner and more efficiently. Citing a study (PDF) from 1Sky ally Environment America, the editorial describes how "about half of the states have broad plans and specific regulations aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions". These would cut emissions by over 7 percent between now and 2020, which the Times points out starts us on the track to the 17 percent reductions President Obama promised at Copenhagen.

In addition to plans like New York's cap on power plant emissions, legally binding increases in alternative energy use in 29 states, and efficiency requirements for home appliances (which will apparently save $1 billion in energy bills) there are other less conventional state policies. Utah's state government four-day work week has saved them millions of dollars and tons of carbon emissions.

If states across the spectrum from Utah to California are moving on saving the Earth, and money, shouldn't Congress be able to get things moving?