NewDEAL Forum Releases New Report on Expanding Clean Energy Access and Reducing Energy Costs
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Christian Hall, christian@newdealleaders.org
NewDEAL Forum Releases New Report on Expanding Clean Energy Access and Reducing Energy Costs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NewDEAL Forum today released a report examining roles for state and local leaders to expand clean energy access, strengthen grid reliability, and lower household energy costs as they face rising electricity prices, aging infrastructure, and escalating climate risks.
Expanding Clean Energy Access and Reducing Energy Costs draws on discussions from the 2025 NewDEAL Leaders Conference and is the second of four briefings in the Forum’s current series on affordability challenges, including around health care, housing, child care, and energy.
With federal leadership receding, states and localities are increasingly responsible for advancing solutions that deliver affordability, resilience, and reliability.
“As energy costs rise and climate risks grow, families are feeling the impact in their monthly bills and their daily lives,” said Jonathon Dworkin, Executive Director of the NewDEAL Forum. “While states and localities cannot fully replace federal leadership, this report highlights practical steps leaders can take as they seek to lower costs, improve reliability, and expand clean energy in ways that work for their communities.”
The report highlights how policymakers are integrating affordability, resilience, and climate goals—recognizing that clean energy solutions must deliver near-term benefits alongside long-term emissions reductions. Experts at the conference, including from Third Way and the MIT Climate Policy Center, emphasized that strategic investments in transmission, grid modernization, and diversified energy sources can reduce outages and lower long-term costs.
The report also examines persistent non-cost barriers that continue to delay clean energy deployment, including permitting backlogs, interconnection challenges, regulatory uncertainty, and workforce shortages. Survey data from more than 200 industry experts found that these obstacles increase costs, slow projects, and undermine public confidence.
At the same time, the report highlights promising innovations already underway across the country, including:
California legislation to accelerate clean energy and battery storage projects while lowering utility bills
New Hampshire’s efforts to stabilize rates and modernize the grid
Oregon's expanded energy efficiency and clean energy workforce training programs
New Jersey's effort to increase transparency and utility disclosure requirements
Michigan's expanded energy assistance programs to protect low- and moderate-income households
The report underscores that transparency and public trust are essential to advancing large-scale energy projects. Clear communication about rates, infrastructure investments, and approval processes can reduce opposition, combat misinformation, and strengthen community engagement.
“Americans want energy solutions that make life better right now,” Dworkin added. “State and local leaders can meet that moment with policies that cut costs, create jobs, and protect communities.”
Expanding Clean Energy Access and Reducing Energy Costs is part of the NewDEAL Forum’s Affordability Project, which examines state and local strategies to lower costs and improve quality of life in key areas, including:
Energy
Housing
Child Care
Additional reports will be released individually over the coming months, each focused on practical, community-tested approaches to affordability.
The full report is available here.
About the NewDEAL Forum
The NewDEAL Forum is a Washington-DC based non-profit organization that identifies and elevates innovative, future-oriented state and local policies that can improve the lives of all Americans. By facilitating the identification and spread of policy ideas, the NewDEAL Forum seeks to foster economic growth, reduce barriers to opportunity and promote good government in communities, cities, and states throughout the country.