Case Studies

Improving Electricity Transmission in the Age of Climate Change 

After working for nearly four years to pass a wildlife corridors resolution, Representative Mary Jo Daley sponsored and secured the passage of H.R.87 with widespread bipartisan support. Through meetings with NEC staff and resource sharing, NEC helped Rep. Daley develop legislation that built upon effective models in other states while aligning with Pennsylvania’s specific needs and goals. Policy Specifics: The 2023 resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee…

After learning about e-bike rebates at an NEC Forum session focused on sustainable transportation, Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein passed a very popular e-bike rebate program in the state’s 2023 Omnibus Transportation Policy and Finance bill. By the Numbers: Minnesota’s rebate covers 50-75% of the cost of an e-bike up to a maximum of $1,500. The bill allocates $2 million for 2024 and 2025, supporting purchases of over 1,000…

Upon working with NEC staff to identify land and water conservation policy models that had been effective in other states, Vermont State Representative Amy Sheldon sponsored the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (H.126), which was enacted in June 2023 and established the most ambitious conservation goal in the country. Bill Specifics: Vermont’s H.126 sets a goal to permanently conserve 30% of all land in Vermont by 2030 (a…

In December 2022, NEC Conservation Program Manager Kate Burgess traveled to Montreal for COP15 with Massachusetts State Senator Michael Moore and New Hampshire State Senator David Watters. The trip led to increased awareness of state-led efforts to protect biodiversity as well as the introduction of new biodiversity legislation by the two Northeast legislators in their home states. Catch Up Quick: Biodiversity - Biodiversity loss has been dubbed the “sister…

After attending NEC’s 2019 National Forum, Colorado State Representative Alex Valdez took what he learned from other states about addressing plastic pollution to craft and enact a comprehensive bill to reduce the use of single-use plastics. In the Words of Rep. Valdez: “One of the first [NEC] sessions I sat in on was an informative session on plastic pollution reduction. This is always something I’ve wanted to tackle as…

NEC champions and Maryland Delegates David Fraser-Hidalgo and Lorig Charkoudian approached NEC in Summer 2020 for assistance in coordinating legislators across the 13 states and DC served by the Regional Transmission Organization PJM. Recent regulations passed by the FERC and PJM were curtailing the ability of states to meet their clean energy policy goals (essentially by artificially pricing wind and solar energy out of the market). Action Once approached…

In 2021, NEC facilitated the launch of a nine-state network to make producers of plastic packaging responsible for the waste they create. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) network consists of state lawmakers working closely on zero-waste policies, and has led to awareness-building and policy successes throughout the country. The Problem: Plastic packaging – much of which is difficult, if not impossible, to recycle – is driving the plastic pollution…

In response to the Trump administration’s rollbacks to offshore drilling protections and proposals to open up more than 90% of the coastline to oil and gas exploration and construction, states actively worked to protect coastlines and prevent new exploration. Action NEC initially organized a sign-on letter with 225+ signatures from state legislators around the country in opposition to the Trump Administration’s rollback of offshore drilling restrictions. From there, NEC…

Large-scale loss of and/or fragmentation of habitat threatens species’ access to food, migration, genetic diversity, and overall resilience, which are all further impacted by changes in climate. Studies have shown that the best way to prevent biodiversity loss is to keep landscapes connected. Wildlife corridors and wildlife crossings are vital and cost-effective ways to maintain resilient ecosystems and to protect public health and safety on roads. Action In its…

The demand for elephant ivory and rhino horn as well as for other exotic species, driven by China, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and other countries, has created a massive international, largely illegal market that is having detrimental economic, social and environmental effects. Action NEC prioritized the power of states to ban the trafficking of endangered species, including rhino horns and elephant ivory. NEC partnered with allied organizations…

Outdoor engagement presents a unique opportunity to serve diverse constituencies because it provides mental and physical health benefits, supports economic development, and connects communities. However, these benefits are not distributed equitably nor available for all communities. Action NEC established an Outdoor Working Group in 2020 to provide a more direct connection between lawmakers from multiple states pursuing outdoor engagement policy ideas and solutions. More than 20 legislators from 16…

Microbeads are exfoliants commonly found in personal care products like soap. Due to the small nature of microbeads, the majority of water treatment plants are unsuitable for removing them from outgoing water. Microbeads absorb toxins before being ingested by fish that mistake them as a source of food, and these toxins accumulate as they move up the food chain. Action NEC educated members about the environmental damage caused by…

When leaders sought to create a compact among all Great Lakes states and provinces, NEC informed members through regional meetings and outreach of the benefits of protecting the lakes from large-scale water withdrawals, and about actions state legislatures would be required to take to enact the compact. Action NEC was instrumental in the creation of this policy that continues to protect the Great Lakes from extreme water withdrawals.