This is the fifth of five podcasts exploring which states are making real and timely progress at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the factors that contribute to their success.
The type and power potential of renewable energy resources (wind, solar, hydropower, etc.) vary significantly across our nation. States in the West have a diverse range of climates, ranging from semiarid in Arizona to temperate in Washington. As a result, the dominant type of renewable energy resources in western states range solar to hydropower.
Environmental philosophies and policies also vary from state to state. Identifying which states are making real and timely progress at reducing greenhouse gas emissions is best done by comparing states in the same region of the country, which have similar renewable resource potential.
Today we will contrast and compare five different states in the West – Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Each of these states have developed environmental policies that have produced very different results at reducing greenhouse emissions.