The Building Up Illinois Developments agenda @govpritzker.illinois.gov offers a roadmap. Protecting the provisions in the recent IL transit reform law re: transit-oriented development and ending parking minimums around frequent transit areas is key. citythatworks.substack.com/p/governor-p...

@climatecabineteducation.org released a huge report today outlining 16 pro-climate, politically pragmatic housing policies. If you’re a policymaker or climate leader wondering where to go next – you should check it out.

This update on the coal situation in IL brought to you by @climatecabinet.org which is worth a follow, especially if you want to stay in the loop about these kinds of climate wins that are too often missed

Since that story came out, the councilmembers voted to stop negotatiations w/ the coal-supporting agency entirely. This is the kind of climate story that won't make front page news but CAN make a big difference in actual emissions. There are wins still happening, even now, if we know where to look

Climate win: In Naperville, IL, which gets its power in part from a coal plant that's one of the top 10 climate polluters in the country, city councilmembers just voted to stop negotiations w/ the agency keeping them hooked on coal. I first wrote about this here: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Some thoughts from Climate Cabinet Action Executive Director @spears.bsky.social on today's announcement that the Trump administration will attempt to unilaterally repeal the endangerment finding:

Not content to set fire to the constitution, they want to set fire to the world. We have the tools to stop them. Here's how 👇

To get this done, we need the right people in office to actually stand up to polluter interests. This is the work that @spears.bsky.social founded and built @climatecabinet.org to do, and we are doing it every day. We won 90% of our elections in 2025 and 2026 is just kicking off. You can help. LFG

At @climatecabinet.org we are fortunate to have @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social as our lead policy expert on Insurance regulation especially. Jordan spearheaded the policy thinking behind bills that are moving in SIX states RIGHT now to tie insurance rates to climate realities:

Beyond electricity and transportation (about half to two-thirds of most states' ghgs), states have enormous power to exercise financial authority-- how they invest pension funds, setting up green banks, creating polluters-pay laws, reforming bankruptcy rules, regulating insurance industries...

Right now, some of the biggest threats to clean energy come from active policy choices to prop up the dirtiest, most expensive sources of electricity. State lawmakers can stop this:

Progress on clean energy is never assured, and backtracking is always a risk. This is especially true with the growth of data centers and other new large electricity users. @climatecabineteducation.org has a useful primer on what states can do to keep bills down and clean energy growing:

Advocates like @denisce.bsky.social and @nickarnoldaz.bsky.social are working every day to ensure clean energy continues to grow in tough policy environments like Arizona and Texas.

Second: The electric sector is the domain of states. Without state renewables laws, there would be no renewables, period. States made this market and this revolution that many are now calling "inevitable." It is not inevitable. Feds and pro-fossil state legislators can do a lot to slow it.

In fact: the argument against states doing *even more* on transportation pollution relies on the federal government setting uniform standards. If there is no federal standard, that opens up some interesting legal questions here.

States can do a lot to spur electric cars and provide other, cleaner & cheaper transportation options. @michealpodgers.bsky.social has compiled seven sets of policies any state (and many local governments) can adopt now: climatecabineteducation.org/transportati...

This biggest source of climate pollution in the country is car tailpipes, and the only (ONLY) federal climate law currently is some very inadequate car tailpipe pollution standards. Trump has already thrown even those out. Fortunately: states have a lot of power here.

With the federal government poised to (illegally) kill off the EPA's climate authority, what has been an open secret is now the only game in town: If you want to make progress on climate, you need to focus on the States. This is our dna at @climatecabinet.org. Here's the playbook:

In the November 2025 elections, a wave of climate champions flipped seats in Virginia. Now, these lawmakers are doing the hard work of making their campaign promises a reality by growing the clean energy economy and lowering bills. There’s still a ways to go, but these early signs are hopeful.

Last fall’s elections made it clear: voters want leaders who actually deliver on affordability. And energy costs are at the center of it. In 2026, we’re electing state lawmakers who can actually do something about it.

We said it on Nov. 5. And we’ll say it again now. The data is pointing towards a potential huge 🌊 in 2026 midterm elections for pro-climate candidates. But these wins won’t happen on their own. That’s why we need to double down and help get pro-climate champions into office.

Just like training for a marathon, we need to train to win local elections 🏃‍♀️ Join us for Run for Climate, a free, virtual, six-week training for anyone who wants to level up their electoral organizing skills! Apply here to reserve your spot today: actionnetwork.org/forms/apply-...

Georgia Power has long benefited from decisions made by the Public Service Commission. The PSC has approved billions of dollars in utility investments, costs that are ultimately paid by customers through sharply rising residential electricity rates.

With an unstable economy and rising energy prices, voters are frustrated and looking for leaders who will lower costs, protect consumers, and deliver real solutions. We're working to elect those state and local leaders in 2026.

We've heard your concerns, Illinois. Families are paying more to keep the lights on, and Trump's only making it worse. With the steps we're taking, residents today will benefit from new jobs and lower prices and residents tomorrow will benefit from a stronger power grid.

CRGA is law!🎉 Today, @govpritzker.illinois.gov signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act into law, officially cementing Illinois as the state with the STRONGEST response yet to the rollback of federal climate protections.

🚨JOB JOB JOB JOB🚨 COME BE THE SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE BEST TEAM WORKING IN CLIMATE POLITICS AND POLICY @climatecabinet.org @clicabedu.bsky.social

1) @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org predicts an energy affordability wave election driven by rising costs + election fundamentals: Pro-fossil fuel policies combine with midterm election trends to sweep in pro-climate, pro-affordability candidates www.forbes.com/sites/energy...

@johnmcauliff.bsky.social won a competitive race by talking about holding utilities accountable. As a former Senior Climate Advisor to the Biden administration, the experience he will bring to the legislature is invaluable. By growing the clean energy economy, policymakers can lower families’ bills.

Happy New Year! Here’s to bold climate leadership and big wins in 2026.

@lilyfordelegate.bsky.social made energy affordability the focus of her campaign. She committed to bringing down families’ utility bills. Her win shows what is possible when leaders offer solutions to real problems.

Happy Holidays from Climate Cabinet. Wishing you a warm and restful holiday season!

Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard unseated two long-time incumbents to win their races for Georgia PSC in a race that has been making waves. By focusing on affordability and consumer protections, these leaders were able to be the first pro-climate candidates to win seats on the PSC in almost 20 years

@climatecabinet.org, founded by Caroline Spears, MS ’17 Civil & Environmental Engineering, focuses on supporting pro-climate candidates in state and local elections rather than federal races. Emma Fisher, ’17 BS Earth System Science, is COO. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... #energypolicy #climate

Today, @govpritzker.illinois.gov signed into law the Northeastern Illinois Transit Authority Act. This establishes a new transit authority for the Chicago region (NITA), increases state funding for transit by $1.5 billion, and puts IL on the path for a zero carbon transportation system.

Candidate spotlight: James Solomon won his race for Jersey City mayor. Rather than pushing for harmful projects that would have increased pollution, James ran on a proudly pro-climate platform. He advocated for smarter development and better public transit to build a more connected city for everyone

A once-in-a-generation investment that benefits everyone in our state. Today, I’m proud to sign the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act into law. Our new regional authority will modernize Illinois’ transit systems — and we’re doing it with no new statewide taxes.

Say, that *is* a fun fact! Here's the receipts from @climatecabinet.org's incredible data team.

Every day, I am motivated to go to work at @climatecabinet.org because in state and local politics, true climate solutions are achievable. And we're getting it done. Thanks @whitneybauck.bsky.social @theguardian.com for this great spotlight on the critical importance of local climate leadership.

What @whitneybauck.bsky.social said!

Want to feel hopeful about climate action? Look to local politics. 75% of the commitments that the US made at the Paris climate agreement can be reached entirely without federal support. I dug into this for @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

@climatecabinet.org rocks! @us.theguardian.com does too, but in a different way. @docsforclimate.bsky.social @psr.org @climate4health.bsky.social @cughnews.bsky.social

Great profile of a terrific organization. If you're depressed about the state of the world, the antidote is to take action, and @climatecabinet.org is showing us how to win. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Great read from @whitneybauck.bsky.social about the advocacy strategies of @climatecabinet.org. Climate progress in the US is possible when bypassing federal denialism local action is a template for other rights and justice movements in a regressive time. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

“Just a handful of races determine chamber control,” @spears.bsky.social said, “And when chambers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Virginia flipped, those chambers actually then passed 100% clean energy policies.” Could not be more proud to be a part of this team at @climatecabinet.org.

1. Cars are the biggest source of climate pollution in the country. 2. Transportation is the biggest household expense after rent/mortgage. 2. State and local gov't could cut these numbers by about 25% in five years without any federal policy. Somebody solve this for me, what should we do? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Last week’s election was big: from Georgia to Allegheny County, Dave Roberts and I broke it down on @volts.wtf. 3 big themes: 📊 Turnout: who showed up & who didn't 💸 Affordability (we have real solutions, folks) and 🍃Tea Leaves on what this means for 2026 transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...

It's that time of year! Happy @climatecabinet.org & @volts.wtf Season, everybody!

Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.