WASHINGTON (July 2, 2026) — The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) this week released a new report, “Michigan’s Climate Goals at a Crossroads,” warning that the state’s 100% clean energy mandate is on a collision course with rising electricity demand and could jeopardize grid reliability and the state’s manufacturing base unless paired with firm, carbon-free power. Authored by Neel Brown, Managing Director at PPI, and John Kemp, an internationally recognized expert on energy markets and systems, the report calls on policymakers to shift from rigid fuel-mix mandates to a pragmatic, outcomes-based approach centered on emissions per capita.

Michigan’s Clean Energy Future Plan, signed into law in 2023, mandates 60% renewables by 2030 and 100% clean generation by 2040. But renewables currently supply just 7% to 11% of the state’s power, and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has warned of insufficient regional generation capacity as soon as 2028. Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing accounts for nearly two-fifths of Michigan’s GDP, making the state especially exposed to reliability disruptions or price spikes from premature retirement of firm gas generation.

The report finds Michigan has cut carbon emissions by two-thirds since 2005, faster than the national average, largely by switching from coal to natural gas. Per-capita emissions now sit at 14 metric tons, slightly below the U.S. average, and total energy spending per person is 11% below the national average. The planned 2026 restart of the Palisades nuclear power plant is expected to add 800 megawatts of firm, carbon-free generation, while the state’s EV mandate of 2 million vehicles by 2030 remains far out of reach, with just under 121,000 registered as of November 2025.

To sustain Michigan’s emissions progress without risking reliability or industrial competitiveness, the report recommends three priorities:

• Maintain natural gas generation for critical reliability rather than retiring efficient plants ahead of adequate replacement capacity
• Leverage firm baseload power, including the Palisades restart and development of small modular reactors, to support continued renewable growth
• Re-evaluate the EV mandate timeline to align with actual adoption while sustaining investment in charging infrastructure

“Michigan has real climate progress to show for the last two decades, but holding onto mandates the grid cannot support is a recipe for blackouts, higher bills, and job losses,” said Brown. “The state has a legislative off-ramp available, and pragmatic policymakers should use it.”

Read and download the report here.

Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us at @ppi.

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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org

WASHINGTON (June 4, 2026) — The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) today released a new report, “The New Mexico Dilemma: Balancing Net-Zero Ambitions with Energy Realities,” warning that the state’s aggressive net-zero timeline could undermine grid reliability and energy affordability unless it is paired with firm, fully-scaled, carbon-free power. Authored by Neel Brown, Managing Director at PPI, and John Kemp, an internationally recognized expert on energy markets and systems, the report calls on policymakers to prioritize technology-neutral, outcome-based strategies over fixed net-zero dates.

New Mexico is the nation’s second-largest oil producer and fourth-largest gas producer, and the oil and gas industry is the state’s largest private-sector funder and a major driver of state budget revenues. The state is pursuing a 100% clean grid by 2045 and net-zero emissions by 2050, goals set by executive order in 2019 but never codified by the legislature. Unlike energy-producing peers such as Pennsylvania and Illinois, New Mexico has no nuclear generation and very little hydropower to supply carbon-free baseload, raising the risk that retiring gas generation too quickly could create capacity shortfalls, price spikes, and lost industrial investment.

The report finds the state has cut carbon emissions by 21% since the goals were set, primarily by switching from coal to natural gas, far short of the 45% reduction targeted for 2030. New Mexico also maintains some of the strictest methane rules in the country, requiring operators to capture 98% of natural gas waste and banning routine venting and flaring. Its emissions intensity is half that of Texas.

The authors note that New Mexico is not facing the demand surges and price shocks straining other states. Both grids serving the state, the Southwest Power Pool and WECC-Southwest, hold ample reserve margins expected to remain healthy through 2030. Residential electricity prices have fallen in real terms since 2019 and have risen just 3.7% over the past year, less than half the national average increase.

To protect that advantage, the report recommends three priorities:

1. Adopt technology-neutral, outcome-based policies focused on reducing atmospheric carbon rather than banning specific fuels
2. Invest in clean firm power such as geothermal, battery storage, and advanced nuclear to backstop wind and solar
3. Protect consumer affordability by using the newly established $210 million Community Benefit Fund to keep transition costs from falling on rural and low-income ratepayers

“New Mexico has a rare opportunity to cut emissions without sacrificing reliability or affordability, but only if policy follows the realities on the ground,” said Neel Brown. “Arbitrary deadlines are not a substitute for firm, carbon-free power that is actually built and running.”

Read and download the report here.

Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us at @ppi.

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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org

WASHINGTON (May 12, 2026) — A new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) finds that expanding advanced recycling at existing oil refineries and new standalone facilities nationwide can more than double the U.S. plastic recycling rate from 9% to between 19-23%.

Authored by Stuart Malec, PPI’s Vice President of Public Affairs, “The Waste Diversion Benefits of Expanding Advanced Recycling,” outlines how traditional mechanical recycling is limited due to its inability to recycle ‘flexible plastics’ such as shopping bags and plastic films or plastics contaminated by food or oil residue. Advanced recycling, which uses chemical processes like pyrolysis to break plastics down to the molecular level, can fill in the gap and convert plastic waste into raw materials that can be used to make new products.

“Scaling up advanced recycling efforts will lead to significant environmental and economic benefits,” said Malec. “Increasing the amount of  plastic waste that can be successfully recycled will not only benefit the planet, but will also collectively save communities across the country millions of dollars in their waste disposal budgets.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Short-term deployment of advanced recycling could raise the nationwide plastic recycling rate from 9% to 19% while potentially reaching 23% in the long-term.
• Local municipalities could save between $229.7 million-$327.5 million per year in avoided landfill tipping fees, defined as charges per ton to dispose of waste.
• States with historically low recycling rates can use existing oil refineries to implement advanced recycling technology, raising their landfill diversion rates.

While advanced recycling can curb dangerous environmental effects and benefit local economies, Malec argues that there needs to be a regulatory framework that strengthens the economic incentives to collect plastic waste.

“Clear policy is essential for this innovative technology to achieve its full potential in waste diversion and economic impact,” said Malec. “Without a clear policy framework, more and more plastic waste will continue ending up in landfills instead of being reused in the economy.”

Read and download the report here.

Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us at @ppi.

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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2026) — A new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) finds that Illinois has built one of the nation’s cleanest and most affordable energy systems, but warns that calendar-driven mandates to phase out natural gas generation could undermine grid reliability, drive up costs, and push investment to neighboring states.

Authored by Neel Brown, Managing Director at PPI, and John Kemp, an internationally recognized energy markets expert, “The Illinois Challenge: Balancing Decarbonization with Economic Reality,” outlines a strategy grounded in reliability, technological maturity, and economic competitiveness.

Illinois has reduced emissions faster than the national average, driven largely by its dominant nuclear fleet and a steady, market-led shift from coal to natural gas. Emissions fell 2.1% annually between 2005 and 2023, compared to 1.2% nationwide, and the state now emits 188 tons of carbon dioxide per $1 million of economic output, more than 10% below the national average and well below every other Midwest state. Household energy spending is nearly 12% below the national average, underscoring the affordability gains that have sustained public support for continued climate progress.

“Illinois’ progress shows that durable emissions reductions come from markets, innovation, and firm low-carbon generation, not from rigid calendar deadlines,” said Brown. “The state already leads the country in clean nuclear power. The next phase requires a pragmatic strategy that protects reliability and affordability while continuing to drive emissions down.”

The authors note that the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act mandates a full phaseout of natural gas generation by 2045, a timeline that the state’s own 2025 Resource Adequacy Study warns could open significant capacity gaps just as electricity demand is surging. Illinois is currently the country’s fifth-largest electricity generator and a net exporter, but eliminating in-state gas generation is projected to turn it into a net importer reliant on the PJM and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regional grids, both of which are expected to face capacity shortfalls by 2030.

Upward pressure on prices is already emerging. Wholesale electricity costs in the PJM region serving northern Illinois surged more than 40% in 2025 amid rapid data center growth, and residential rates jumped 11% in a single year. The authors caution that retiring firm generation before proven replacements are in place will pull energy-intensive industries to higher-emission states such as Indiana and Ohio, exporting both jobs and carbon emissions. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has taken a constructive step by committing to two gigawatts of new nuclear generation and lifting the state’s longstanding moratorium on new reactor construction, reflecting the kind of pragmatic, state-specific policymaking the report recommends.

To navigate this transition, the authors outline three core principles for policymakers:

1. Embrace new nuclear as the foundation of a clean, firm electricity system capable of supporting 24/7 industrial loads and backstopping intermittent renewables.
2. Reform gas transition timelines so infrastructure retirements are aligned with the proven readiness of replacement technologies rather than calendar deadlines.
3. Prioritize grid reliability by heeding regional capacity warnings and avoiding policies that risk blackouts, price spikes, or the loss of in-state generation.

The authors conclude that Illinois’ path to decarbonization must reflect its unique position as the nation’s top nuclear producer and a major electricity exporter. A successful strategy will build on the state’s market-driven progress while avoiding mandates that risk destabilizing the grid, raising costs for households and businesses, or pushing investment across state lines.

Read and download the report here.

Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us at @PPI.

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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org

WASHINGTON — A new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) finds that Pennsylvania has made significant progress reducing carbon emissions while maintaining energy affordability, but warns that the next phase of decarbonization will be more complex, costly, and politically challenging. Authored by Neel Brown, Managing Director at PPI, and John Kemp, an internationally recognized energy markets expert, “Pennsylvania’s Energy Crossroads: Charting a Pragmatic Path to Decarbonization,” outlines a strategy grounded in economic reality, technological flexibility, and energy reliability.

Pennsylvania has reduced emissions faster than the national average, largely due to a market-driven shift from coal to natural gas. Emissions fell from 276 million metric tons in 2005 to 201 million in 2023, a decline of 1.9% annually compared to 1.2% nationwide. At the same time, energy costs for residents remain below the national average, underscoring the importance of affordability in sustaining public support for climate action.

“Pennsylvania’s progress shows that durable emissions reductions are most effective when driven by markets and innovation, not rigid mandates,” said Brown. “The state has already captured the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of decarbonization. The next phase will require a more pragmatic strategy that balances climate ambition with economic competitiveness.”

The authors highlight that Pennsylvania’s emissions profile has shifted significantly. The industrial sector is now the largest source of emissions, followed by transportation and then electric power, which has already seen substantial reductions. This shift requires policymakers to rethink priorities and focus on sectors that are harder to decarbonize.

The authors also note that Pennsylvania’s electricity system remains heavily dependent on natural gas and nuclear power, which together provide a stable and affordable energy foundation. However, rising demand from data centers and capacity constraints in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland region are beginning to put upward pressure on electricity prices, signaling new challenges ahead. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed ambitious legislation to continue reducing emissions, but on a path that is more suitable to Pennsylvania’s unique energy profile. This approach reflects the kind of pragmatic, state-specific policymaking the report recommends.

To navigate this transition, the authors outline three core principles for policymakers:

1. Leverage existing energy assets by maintaining and optimizing natural gas and nuclear power as foundational sources of reliable, dispatchable energy
2. Focus on outcomes rather than mandating specific technologies, encouraging innovation across a range of low-carbon solutions
3. Ensure climate policies do not undermine economic competitiveness or increase costs for households and businesses

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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org

WASHINGTON — Latino families across the United States are disproportionately affected by high energy costs, according to a new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). The study, “Working Latinos Need Relief from High Energy Costs,” finds that Latino households are nearly twice as likely as white households to experience energy insecurity, defined as difficulty affording energy or maintaining a safe household temperature.

Authored by Elan Sykes, Director of Energy and Climate Policy at PPI, the report highlights how infrastructure gaps, outdated housing, and inefficient appliances drive up energy burdens for working-class Latino communities in both urban and suburban areas. Using case studies from Los Angeles and Boston, the analysis reveals that Latino-majority neighborhoods often lack access to clean, affordable energy due to slow permitting processes and underinvestment in modern grid infrastructure.

“Energy policy too often ignores the daily struggles of working families,” said Sykes. “While many Latino Americans support clean energy, they make decisions based on cost, and current policies leave them paying more for less.”

PPI’s report argues for a shift in environmental justice priorities to include cost, access, and infrastructure alongside climate concerns. The study offers a forward-looking blueprint for energy fairness, including:

• A balanced, technology-neutral energy mix including renewables, nuclear, and low-methane natural gas
• Expedited permitting reforms to accelerate grid and pipeline upgrades.
• Expansion of federal assistance programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
• Creation of local Community Energy Hubs to connect residents with information and support
• Neighborhood investment in energy-efficient housing, tree cover, and transit options

WASHINGTON — The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) today released a new report warning that Virginia’s rigid energy mandates are colliding with surging electricity demand from the state’s booming data center industry, creating a policy-induced risk to affordability and grid reliability that could undermine public support for climate progress. As demand accelerates and reliability pressures mount, the report finds that inflexible, technology-specific mandates are increasingly disconnected from economic and system realities.

The report, titled “The Virginia Challenge: Meeting Energy Demand Affordably,” is the third in a PPI series examining how rigid climate mandates and prescriptive technology requirements can threaten affordability and reliability when real-world energy demand and grid constraints are treated as secondary concerns.

“Virginia’s emissions success came from a pragmatic strategy that prioritized reliable, clean power,” said Neel Brown, Managing Director at PPI. “But the state is now forcing the retirement of the very resources that made that progress possible — just as electricity demand is exploding. When policy ignores reliability and affordability, the result is higher costs, greater risk, and eroding public support.”

Authored by Brown and John Kemp, an internationally recognized energy markets expert, the report finds that Virginia’s strong emissions record largely predates the Virginia Clean Economy Act and reflects a successful shift from coal to natural gas and nuclear power. The report warns that today’s rigid mandates, enacted before the data center boom, now risk delivering diminishing climate returns while increasing costs and reliability risks for households and businesses.

Despite this strong baseline, the state’s current energy strategy is increasingly strained by skyrocketing demand, capacity concerns, and mounting wholesale costs. With reliability and affordability at stake, Virginia faces a critical opportunity to recalibrate its approach before inflexible mandates erode both climate progress and public support.

Key findings from the report include:

• Virginia’s electricity demand grew at an annual rate of 3.1% from 2019 to 2024 — more than triple the national average — driven primarily by the explosive growth of data centers in Northern Virginia, now the largest concentration in the world.
• The Virginia Clean Economy Act mandates the retirement of nearly all natural gas and coal generation by 2045, even though gas and nuclear currently provide 87% of the state’s electricity and have been the main drivers of emissions reductions.
• Despite this surge in demand, wind and solar together supplied only 7% of Virginia’s electricity in 2024, underscoring the gap between renewable targets and deployment reality.
• Wholesale electricity costs in the PJM Interconnection region surged more than 40% in the first nine months of 2025, with capacity charges, paid to ensure grid reliability, tripling over the same period.
• Virginia’s per capita emissions (10.8 tons) and carbon intensity per $1 million GDP (158 tons) are already well below the national average, reflecting pre-VCEA gains from replacing coal with lower-emission resources.
• The VCEA’s rigid mandates, crafted before the data center boom, do not account for today’s demand realities, risking reliability shortfalls and rising costs if clean-firm power is retired prematurely.

The authors argue that inflexible technology mandates and statutory retirement deadlines, combined with a failure to adapt to rising demand, have created a structural risk to Virginia’s power grid. When affordability and reliability are overlooked, consumer costs rise, and support for climate action falters. The report urges policymakers to pivot toward outcome-based energy policy, expand clean-firm capacity, and treat affordability as a core indicator of climate policy success.
PPI’s analysis offers a roadmap for recalibrating Virginia’s strategy, emphasizing flexibility, reliability, and fairness, to maintain progress toward decarbonization while safeguarding the Commonwealth’s energy future.

Read and download the report here.

Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us @ppi. 

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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org