Carbon neutrality in the United States

Carbon neutrality in the United States refers to reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to the point where carbon emissions are neutral compared to the absorption of carbon dioxide, and often called "net zero". Like the European Union, and countries worldwide, the United States has implemented carbon neutrality measures and law reform at both federal and state levels:

• The Presidency has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50% to 52% compared to 2005 levels by 2030, a carbon free power sector by 2035, and for the entire economy to be net zero by 2050.^[1]
• By April 2023, 22 states, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico had set legislative or executive targets for clean power production.^[2]
• All cars or light vehicles will have zero emissions (i.e. no internal combustion engine with gas or diesel) by 2035 in light duty vehicles, and no longer be bought by federal government by 2027.^[3]
• The California Air Resources Board voted in 2022 to draft new rules banning gas furnaces and water heaters, and requiring zero emission appliances in 2030.^[4] By 2022, four states have gas bans in new buildings.^[5]

Federal policies and legislation

Federal action plays a pivotal role in the U.S. approach to carbon neutrality, influencing energy systems, transportation, and industrial emission through a mic of legislative and executive tools.

The U.S. federal government has implemented several major policies to advance carbon neutrality, primarily through legislation, regulations, and executive actions. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the most significant climate law in U.S. history, allocating $369 billion to clean energy and emissions reduction. It includes tax credits for renewable energy projects, electric vehicles, and carbon capture technology, aiming to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.^[6] Independent analyses suggest the IRA could reduce emissions by up to 42% by 2030 if fully implemented.^[7] A 2025 peer-reviewed study highlights the IRA’s role in accelerating sustainable energy transitions, particularly through green hydrogen development, which could contribute to reducing global CO₂ emissions by up to 6 gigatons when combined with other clean energy initiatives. ^[8]

Prior to the IRA, the Clean Power Plan (2015) was a key Obama-era policy to reduce emissions from power plants, but it was repealed in 2019. In 2022, the Supreme Court limited the EPA's authority to regulate power plant emissions in West Virginia v. EPA, though the agency retains some power to set standards.^[9] The Biden administration has since proposed new rules requiring coal and gas plants to adopt carbon capture or shut down by 2040.^[10]

Federal agencies are also working toward carbon neutrality. In 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14057, mandating that the federal government achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This includes transitioning to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and electrifying the federal vehicle fleet.^[11] As of 2024^[update], the Department of Defense - the largest federal energy consumer — plans to increase renewable energy use; specific targets are outlined in its Climate Adaptation Plan.^[12]

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that fossil fuels will still provide about 60% of U.S. electricity in 2050 under current policies.^[13] Legal battles and shifting political priorities could also delay implementation. For example, some IRA tax credits face opposition in Congress, and future administrations could roll back regulations.^[14] While these initiatives mark historic progress, their long term success will depend on sustained political commitment, robust legal frameworks, and technological scalability.

List of state clean electricity laws

The following is a list of measures to move to clean electricity in 22 states, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, dates, and the details of their laws.^[15]

State	Measure	Latest date	Details
California	100% carbon-free electricity	2045	2018 legislation (SB 100) extended and expanded the existing state RPS. State agencies are required to submit implementation plans by January 1, 2021. In 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown's Executive Order B-55-18 set a goal of statewide carbon neutrality by no later than 2045, with net negative GHG emissions thereafter.
Colorado	100% carbon-free electricity for Xcel Energy	2050	A 2019 law (SB 19-236) codified a pledge previously made by Xcel, whose service territory covers approximately 60% of the state's load. It is mandatory “so long as it is technically and economically feasible.”
Connecticut	100% carbon-free electricity	2040	Governor Ned Lamont's 2019 Executive Order (Number 3) set a 2040 goal for carbon-free electricity and asked the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop a decarbonization plan for the power sector, in line with previous legislation to cut economy-wide carbon emissions by 80% below 2001 levels by 2050. In May 2022, Senate Bill 10, An Act Concerning Climate Change Mitigation, placed the goal into law.
District of Columbia	100% renewable energy through the RPS	2032	The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 (DC Act 22-583) amended the existing RPS to mandate 100% renewable electricity by the year 2032.
Hawaii	100% renewable energy through the RPS	2045	2015 legislation (HB623) made Hawaii the first state to set a 100% RPS for the electricity sector.
Illinois	100% clean energy	2050	2021 legislation (SB2408) established a goal of 100% clean energy by 2050, with interim targets of 40% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
Louisiana	Net zero greenhouse gas emissions	2050	Governor John Bel Edwards’ 2020 Executive Order (JBE 2020–18) established a Climate Initiatives Task Force to develop a roadmap and make recommendations.
Maine	100% clean energy	2050	2019 legislation (LD 1494) increased Maine's RPS to 80% by 2030, and set a goal of 100% by 2050. Also LD1679 sets an economy-wide goal of 80% cuts to greenhouse gases by 2050.
Maryland	Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions	2045	The General Assembly enacted the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. This wide-ranging legislation includes the 2045 net-zero goal.
Massachusetts	Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions	2050	In 2020, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs set a 2050 net-zero GHG emissions goal under the authority of 2008 legislation. The same goal was then included in a March 2021 climate action law (Bill S.9). A decarbonization roadmap was released at the end of 2020.
Michigan	Economy-wide carbon neutrality	2050	Governor Gretchen Whitmer's order in 2020 (Executive Directive 2020–10) set a goal “to achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality no later than 2050.” It directed the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to develop a plan by the end of 2021.
Minnesota	100% carbon-free electricity	2040	2023 legislation (SF 4) requires electric utilities to get 100% of the electricity they sell from carbon-free sources by 2040, including renewables and nuclear power. There are interim targets of 80% carbon-free power in 2030 and 90% in 2035. The legislation also increases the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 55% by 2035.
Nebraska	Net-zero carbon emissions from generation resources for Nebraska Public Power District and Omaha Public Power District	2050	Nebraska is the only state served solely by publicly owned utilities. As of December 2021, the three public utilities that serve the vast majority of customers have all adopted 100% clean energy goals. 2040 target for Lincoln Electric System.
Nevada	100% carbon-free electricity	2050	2019 legislation (SB 358) raised the RPS to 50% by 2030, and set a goal of a net-zero emission power sector by 2050.
New Jersey	100% carbon-free electricity	2035	Governor Phil Murphy's Executive Order 315 in 2023 set a goal of ensuring 100% of energy sold in the state comes from clean sources by 2035 and directed BPU to develop an updated Energy Master Plan by 2024.
New Mexico	100% carbon-free electricity	2045	2019 legislation (SB 489) requires utilities to have a zero-carbon power supply by 2045, including at least 80% from renewables, with the exception of rural electric coops which have a 2050 target date.
New York	100% carbon-free electricity	2040	2019 legislation (S6599) requires zero-emissions electricity by 2040 and sets a goal of cutting all state GHGs 85% by 2050. A Climate Action Council will develop a plan.
North Carolina	Carbon neutrality in the electricity sector	2050	2021 legislation (HB 951) requires the North Carolina Utilities Commission to “take all reasonable steps” to achieve a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions from electric generating facilities in the state by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The 2022 Executive Order 246 sets an economy-wide target of net-zero emissions by "no later than 2050," sets a goal that half of new vehicle sales must be electric vehicles by 2030, incorporates environmental justice and equity into climate programs, and has other measures.
Oregon	Greenhouse gas emissions reduced 100 percent below baseline emissions	2040	2021 legislation (HB 2021) requires investor-owned utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the electricity they sell to 80 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2030, 90 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2035, and 100 percent below baseline emissions levels by 2040.
Puerto Rico	100% renewable energy for electricity	2050	2019 legislation (SB1121), the Public Energy Policy Law of Puerto Rico, set a timeline for reaching 100% renewable electricity by the year 2050.
Rhode Island	100% renewable energy electricity	2033	Governor Gina Raimondo's 2020 Executive Order (20-01) requires the Office of Energy Resources to “conduct economic and energy market analysis and develop viable policy and programmatic pathways” to meet 100% of statewide electricity deliveries with renewables by 2030. 2022 legislation (H7277 SUB A) updates the state's RPS to require 100% of RI's electricity to be offset by renewable production by 2033.
Virginia	100% carbon-free electricity for Dominion Energy	2045	The 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act (House Bill 1526 and Senate Bill 851) requires zero-carbon utilities by 2050 at the latest. 2050 for Appalachian Power Company.
Washington	100% zero-emissions electricity	2045	2019's Clean Energy Transformation Act (SB5116) applies to all utilities. The state Commerce Department started a rulemaking process in August 2019. Utilities must file implementation plans by January 2022.
Wisconsin	100% carbon-free electricity	2050	Governor Tony Evers’ Executive Order (EO38) in 2019 directed a new Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy to “achieve a goal” of all carbon-free power by 2050.

Phase out of fossil fuel transport

Main article: Phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles

California in 2020 set a 2035 target for all passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks to cease emissions. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont also have laws for 2035.

Maine, Oregon, Washington have laws for 2030.

Phase out of gas boiler

California has proposed a ban on gas furnaces and heating or water systems and appliances. (include more info and add references ◡̈)

See also

• Fossil fuel phase-out
• Phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles
• Phase-out of gas boilers
• Plastic bans
• Montreal Protocol

Further reading

• Clay, Karen, Akshaya Jha, Joshua Lewis, and Edson Severnini. 2025. "Carbon Rollercoaster: A Historical Analysis of Decarbonization in the United States." Journal of Economic Perspectives 39 (3): 171–92.