December 23, 2024 | SWEEP Staff
The elections shifted the federal political landscape dramatically, making for some stiff headwinds for clean energy and climate work in the new year. But before we turn the page on 2024, we first wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of our top highlights and wins from this year. None of these would have been possible without the collaboration and backing of our partners, Allies, and supporters. Thank you!
Here is our baker’s dozen of favorite victories from 2024:
1. Xcel’s first-ever Clean Heat plan: The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) intervened at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and worked with partners to help win approval of a robust, nation-leading Clean Heat plan for Xcel Energy, marking a major victory in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the gas utility sector. Under this plan, the utility will invest more than $440 million over the next three years to boost clean resources like building efficiency and beneficial electrification, which will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 725,000 tons annually. In addition, spurred by SWEEP’s advocacy, Xcel also received PUC approval to begin implementation of its first two non-pipeline alternative projects, which seek to avoid major investments in expanding gas pipelines through investments in energy efficiency and beneficial electrification.
2. Low carbon fuel standard in New Mexico: After four prior attempts, SWEEP and our allies were finally able to achieve passage of low carbon fuel standard legislation in New Mexico, making it the fourth state in the country to authorize such a standard. The bill requires suppliers to reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels by at least 20% by 2030 and 30% by 2040, and directs electric utilities to reinvest at least half of the monies they generate to benefit under-resourced communities.
3. Climate Pollution Reduction Grants for Utah and Colorado: In July, the Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $4 billion in competitive Inflation Reduction Act-funded climate grants, including three in the Southwest region: $75 million for Utah’s Beehive Emission Reduction Plan, $129 million to Colorado’s Energy Office, and $200 million to the Denver Regional Council of Governments. These monies will be used to fund a range of climate projects – including many solutions advanced by SWEEP – ranging from improving the energy efficiency and decarbonization of homes and large commercial and multifamily buildings, to spurring transportation electrification and solar generation. Next step: SWEEP will lend its expertise to ensure effective implementation of these transformative grants.
4. Salt River Project’s updated sustainability goals: With SWEEP’s active support and input, in March, this Phoenix-area utility adopted improved sustainability goals through 2035. These include commitments for the Salt River Project to reduce carbon emissions from its generation fleet, expand investment in energy efficiency, and accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs), including reducing 82% of carbon emissions emitted per megawatt-hour generated.
5. Location-efficient land use legislation: Championed by SWEEP, a major victory in the Colorado legislative session was passage of a package of climate-friendly land use bills designed to increase housing and affordability within existing cities, as a way to reduce the amount of driving between homes and jobs, thereby lowering transportation emissions and advancing equity. This effort included measures to enable Accessory Dwelling Units, reduce unnecessary parking, increase multifamily and affordable housing opportunities along transit corridors, assess local housing supply needs, and end occupancy limits to create more efficient, affordable, and climate-friendly communities.
6. Climate tax credits in New Mexico: After working since the mid-2010s to advance a state EV tax credit, SWEEP’s efforts finally paid off. In 2024, the New Mexico legislature adopted a suite of seven different climate tax credits, including incentives for new and used EVs, rooftop solar, home heat pumps, geothermal electricity, and industrial renewables and storage.
7. Launch of home energy rebate programs: The Inflation Reduction Act will provide more than $645 million to Southwest states for Home Energy Rebate programs to improve home efficiency and electrification. SWEEP provided detailed recommendations to state energy offices on how to design programs to maximize climate and equity benefits; now these programs are launching across the region. Arizona and New Mexico were some of the first states in the country to have their Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate program approved and launched to help low- and moderate-income households to save on home upgrades, with Colorado following soon after; Nevada and Utah’s programs are under development.
8. Gas planning to reduce the cost of use of methane gas: Staff at SWEEP drafted a nation-leading policy proposal that was then adopted by the Colorado legislature to help speed the transition from fossil fuels to clean electricity by slowing unnecessary investments in the gas distribution system. Specifically, this legislation allows local governments to partner with Xcel Energy to identify and develop neighborhood-scale alternative projects that forego the need to build new gas pipelines or allow for the decommissioning of portions of the existing gas distribution system.
9. “Powering Up” electric distribution system planning reform: A joint effort of SWEEP and other conservation groups, the state Energy Office, labor, and utilities resulted in the adoption of Colorado legislation to improve the planning and buildout of the electricity distribution system. This “Powering Up” bill, which is now being rolled out in other states around the country, will ensure timely interconnection of new loads necessary to meet decarbonization goals, support consumer demand for retail distributed generation and beneficial electrification measures, and expand aligned workforce training.
10. Transportation electrification investments: With SWEEP’s encouragement, regulators in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada approved a series of new utility Transportation Electrification Plans that collectively will invest more than $350 million in highly-efficient EV programs and infrastructure across the region. These plans include advisory services for customers who are planning electrification projects; rebates for installing charging stations at homes and commercial buildings; and broader customer access to the benefits of transportation electrification, including low-income customers and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by vehicle pollution.
11. Organizational awards: SWEEP was honored to receive the “Partner of the Year” Award from Conservation Colorado at their Annual Rebel with a Cause event in June, where they highlighted our contributions to environmental protection and sustainability efforts in Colorado over the years. In another tribute, at this year’s National Energy Codes Conference, SWEEP’s Buildings Program Director Jim Meyers was presented with the prestigious Jeffrey A. Johnson Award for his years of dedicated work on the advancement of energy codes.
12. New transit funding in Colorado: SWEEP helped create a new fee on oil and gas companies, which will generate hundreds of millions of dollars to mitigate the impacts of fossil fuel production on air quality, climate, and land – specifically sending much-needed monies to fund more frequent and convenient bus and rail service across Colorado.
13. End of year giving season: Last but not least, SWEEP is filled with gratitude for the outpouring of generosity from across the region to support our work. Inspired by a $25,000 challenge match from one of our donors, SWEEP supporters showered the organization with nearly $55,000 to kickstart our 2025 work plan.
While the post-election future is uncertain, what is clear as we ring in the new year is that SWEEP’s work at the state and local level will be more important than ever to advancing a clean, efficient, affordable energy future for all. We can’t count on The White House or Congress to lead the way on climate action, but we can continue to make forward progress from the ground up – to pilot innovative policy and technical solutions, to transform the markets for zero emission equipment and appliances, and to foster the public and political will to embrace the clean energy transition. Bolstered by that knowledge and commitment, we express our gratitude for your ongoing partnership and wish you the happiest of holidays!
The post Reflections on 2024: Clean energy wins amid changing winds first appeared on Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.