Environment & Energy

Governor Dunleavy devoted a major portion of his address to energy development, celebrating the Alaska LNG Project as "the single most transformative project in Alaska since the Trans-Alaska Pipeline." He announced that Glenfarne is advancing Phase One from development into execution, with gas sales agreements from Hilcorp and ExxonMobil, representing $10 billion in labor and materials. He praised President Trump's executive order reopening NPR-A, ANWR, and offshore areas for oil and gas, and highlighted the state's positioning for advanced nuclear power, carbon capture, data centers, tidal energy, and sustainable aviation fuels.

Governor Hobbs proposed eliminating the Data Center Tax Exemption (a $38 million corporate handout) and requiring data centers to pay their fair share for water, with revenue funding a new Colorado River Protection Fund. She announced a new Active Management Area for La Paz County to crack down on groundwater pumping by out-of-state interests. She highlighted Operation Desert Guardian's counterdrug operations and called for a $30 million Colorado River Protection Fund, while defending ongoing Colorado River negotiations against upper basin states.

Governor Newsom highlighted California's clean energy leadership, noting the state ended all coal-fired power use, ran on 100% clean energy for part of 9 out of 10 days, and that two-thirds of energy comes from clean sources. He celebrated extending the Cap-and-Invest program for 20 more years providing $60 billion in energy bill rebates, enabling a new regional energy market, and working on insurance reform for wildfire resilience. He positioned clean energy as an economic competitiveness issue against China, noting California has seven times as many clean energy jobs as fossil fuel jobs.

Governor Polis highlighted Colorado's clean energy progress, noting the share of energy from clean sources grew by nearly 75% during his tenure, and bad air quality days dropped from 65 to 30. He noted 204,000 EVs on Colorado roads (up from 18,000 in 2019) and pushed for continued progress toward 100% clean energy while acknowledging federal headwinds require flexibility. He addressed Colorado River negotiations, pine beetle outbreaks, and the creation of $120 million in new annual funding for public lands conservation through the Keep Colorado Wild pass.

Governor Lamont addressed energy affordability as a key priority, noting Connecticut's historically high electricity prices. He highlighted the Millstone nuclear agreement returning over $100 million to ratepayers, defended energy efficiency investments, and noted new supply from Québec Hydro and Revolution Wind. He criticized federal tariff threats on Canadian energy and stop-start policies on wind power, and emphasized that PURA must hold utilities accountable while ensuring ratepayers only cover infrastructure and energy costs, not charitable, legal, or lobbying expenses.

Governor Meyer called energy affordability "unacceptable," citing a couple whose bill jumped from $150 to $600 monthly, and demanded Delmarva Power stop overcharging families. He called on the Public Service Commission to stop approving rate hikes and emphasized the need for more homegrown energy generation, including the 1.7-gigawatt U.S. Wind project and safe modern nuclear energy, endorsing a Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force led by legislators.

Governor Kemp briefly mentioned energy in the context of economic development, noting that Georgia's future prosperity requires "abundant and affordable energy" and highlighting the PowerSC working group, the SC Nexus consortium, and the state's leadership in nuclear energy with over half its electricity from nuclear power and seven operating reactors. He declared South Carolina will lead the nation's nuclear renaissance.

Governor Green highlighted Hawaii's transformational energy plan to reduce dependence on oil and transition to fully renewable sources while reducing energy costs. He noted the successful removal of 104 million gallons of fuel at Red Hill and announced the nation's first 'Green Fee' generating over $100 million annually for climate action and conservation. He emphasized Hawaii's vulnerability to climate change with stronger storms, coastal erosion, and drought.

Governor Little celebrated Idaho National Laboratory's role in nuclear energy research under the Trump administration's nuclear resurgence, noting Energy Secretary Chris Wright's visit. He highlighted partnerships for wildfire prevention through Shared Stewardship and Good Neighbor Authority agreements for improved forest health through increased logging. He also mentioned the state's efforts to expand outdoor recreation access on public lands.

Governor Braun focused on energy affordability, appointing a consumer advocate (Abby Gray) to fight utility rate hikes, who recommended a rate decrease on her first request. He specifically addressed data centers, insisting they must pay their own power costs and citing Amazon's $15 billion data center as a model. He supported legislation to hold investor-owned utility companies accountable and appointed three rate-payer conscious members to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Governor Kelly identified the water crisis as a critical priority, calling on the legislature to support the Water Task Force in developing a comprehensive long-term strategy with a dedicated funding source. She emphasized it as "not a partisan issue" and time-sensitive, urging leaders to look beyond the next election to the next generation.

Governor Beshear proposed a $75 million fund to help at-risk Kentuckians pay utility bills, reflecting concern about energy affordability amid rising costs from tariffs and national uncertainty.

Governor Healey announced immediate energy bill relief: a 25% cut to electric bills and 10% cut to gas bills in February and March. She filed energy affordability legislation projected to save $13 billion, pursuing an "all of the above" supply strategy including wind, solar, hydro, gas, and nuclear. She directed utilities to justify every line item on bills and pledged to require utilities to buy energy at the lowest price, while highlighting a new hydroelectric line from Quebec already lowering bills by $50 million.

Governor Moore addressed rising energy prices (up 13% since last year) and proposed an additional $100 million in energy rebates on top of $200 million provided the prior year. He led a coalition of governors calling on PJM to cap energy prices for two years and demanded data centers hire local workers, engage communities, and cover their own power costs. He called for doubling down on solar, wind, and energy storage while maintaining a diverse portfolio including natural gas and nuclear.

Governor Mills addressed electricity costs, noting Maine's overreliance on natural gas for power generation. She advocated diversifying energy sources with more wind, solar, and Canadian hydro while pursuing energy storage, and highlighted Efficiency Maine Trust rebates for heat pumps, water heaters, and weatherization. She noted Maine has reduced heating oil reliance from 62% to 50% of homes and shared the story of the Lovewell family in Caribou who saved significantly through weatherization upgrades.

Governor Pillen emphasized electrical power as key to economic prosperity, particularly for AI-intensive industries. He proposed removing red tape for large power users to build their own generation and sell excess electricity onto the grid through 'behind the meter' generation, with Senator DeKay carrying legislation. He highlighted Nebraska ethanol as "number one in America" and celebrated the Trump administration's support for ethanol in energy dominance.

Governor Ayotte addressed high electric rates, blaming neighboring states' net-zero policies for pushing up regional costs and criticizing the Public Utilities Commission for being too willing to accommodate utilities. She directed the Department of Energy to build pathways for next-generation nuclear power in New Hampshire and emphasized energy efficiency and accountability for ratepayers.

Governor Sherrill declared a State of Emergency on Utility Costs as her first executive order, freezing new utility rate hikes and directing the Board of Public Utilities to open solicitations for new solar, storage, and modernized gas and nuclear generation to lower costs long-term.

Governor Lujan Grisham called for codifying the Climate Action Plan to cut pollution 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. She highlighted $10 billion in private clean energy investment, doubled wind power capacity, and noted New Mexico ranks sixth nationally in solar. She proposed a blue-ribbon commission to leverage investments while protecting consumers and called for an all-hands-on-deck approach covering industry emissions, grid modernization, agricultural sustainability, and forest management.

Governor Hochul proposed raising the state's nuclear energy target from one to five gigawatts — more than built anywhere in the US in 30 years — and announced a nuclear workforce development program. She demanded data centers pay their fair share and generate their own power independently. She also highlighted progress on clean hydropower from Quebec powering over a million NYC homes and criticized Trump's stop-work order on offshore wind.

Governor Stitt briefly touched on energy through celebrating Oklahoma's ethanol industry and the state's overall economic performance without major energy-specific proposals in this address.

Governor McKee proposed reforms to reduce the 25% of energy bills from state programs and taxes, and highlighted the Revolution Wind offshore project's legal battles against Trump administration stop-work orders. He committed to fighting for the project alongside fellow Democratic governors and proposed energy relief including suspending an energy tax and cutting electric and gas bills.

Governor McMaster declared South Carolina will lead the nation's nuclear renaissance, noting over half the state's electricity is safely generated by nuclear energy with seven operating reactors. He highlighted Santee Cooper's decision to restart construction of two unfinished reactors at V.C. Summer and the creation of the PowerSC working group and SC Nexus consortium for energy planning. He also emphasized the new State Water Plan completed last month.

Governor Rhoden did not make energy a major focus but mentioned the state's work on cybersecurity for rural infrastructure including water systems, and briefly touched on tourism and outdoor recreation as economic drivers.

Governor Lee announced Tennessee was named the #1 state for nuclear energy development and proposed $25 million for the Nuclear Fund. He highlighted the Tennessee Nuclear Fund's success in recruiting $8 billion in investment and announced the Tennessee Quantum Initiative. He celebrated multi-generational nuclear energy legacy in Oak Ridge, from the Manhattan Project to current small modular reactor development at the Clinch River Site.

Governor Abrams (Virginia's new governor) pledged to lower energy costs by producing more energy and ensuring high energy users pay their fair share, with particular emphasis on addressing rising utility costs as part of her affordability agenda.

Governor Scott briefly noted bipartisan success in removing sales tax on household utility bills (saving $178 million over two years) and discussed energy costs in the context of education funding, noting that diversifying energy sources is needed to address high electricity prices.

Governor Ferguson proposed a historic billion-dollar investment in infrastructure without raising taxes and highlighted Washington's clean energy achievements, including building the world's first commercial fusion power plant in Chelan County and launching the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator. He noted Washington's economy is the 9th largest in the nation with a Triple A bond rating. He criticized federal policies that threaten energy investments.

Governor Evers announced a 20-year renewable energy purchase of 225,000 megawatt hours annually (enough to power over 500,000 homes) and a partnership with UW-Madison to study nuclear energy opportunities, calling nuclear a potential "game-changer." He highlighted the state's first Clean Energy Plan, the Trillion Tree Pledge (42 million trees planted), and investments in the Wisconsin Fusion Energy Coalition. He also noted removing sales tax from utility bills saved $178 million and emphasized that data center growth must not jeopardize sustainability efforts.

Governor Morrisey celebrated West Virginia's passage of a comprehensive microgrids law, calling it potentially "one of the single biggest economic development drivers in our history" with investments that "could total tens of billions of dollars." He emphasized the state's energy development opportunities and infrastructure investments while noting companies across the country are expressing deep interest.

Governor Gordon highlighted Wyoming's extensive energy portfolio including coal, oil, gas, uranium, rare earth elements, and CO2 capture for enhanced oil recovery. He celebrated working with the Trump administration to compel federal oil, gas, and coal leases and extend power plant lifespans, while also facilitating the nation's newest nuclear reactor and launching the state's first dollar-backed stable token. He warned about 30 years of drought threatening water resources and called for significant funding to protect Wyoming's water rights across all river basins.

Governor Reynolds did not make energy or environment a major focus of her address, concentrating instead on property taxes, education, veterans, and healthcare.

Governor Ivey did not significantly address energy or environmental policy in her address, focusing primarily on education, public safety, and economic development.