Dive Brief:

• The governors of 17 states have banded together to sign the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future, committing to take actions that promote clean energy, clean transportation choices and a modern electrical grid, the Guardian reports. 
• States signing the accord include: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
• A nod to the declining cost of energy storage options, the accord notes "technologies that capture solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal power have become viable and cost-effective to integrate into our states’ energy portfolios."
• The accord provides governors a "platform through which their states will collaborate," said New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan (D), leveraging partnerships in energy planning and policymaking.

Dive Insight:

Governors of more than a dozen states are committing to modernize their energy infrastructure, plan for an "energy transition," clean up the transportation sector and bring transmission into the 21st century. A bipartisan group of 17 governors has signed on to the accord, which broadly outlines the areas where they will collaborate.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said the accord "highlights the tremendous opportunities to create a shared clean, affordable and resilient energy future." His state, said Baker, "will continue to lead the way on clean energy, energy efficiency and the adoption of innovative technologies such as energy storage."

The accord commits governors to:

• diversify energy generation and expand clean energy sources;
• modernize energy infrastructure;
• encourage clean transportation options;
• and collaborate on transformational policy changes.

“We know that our businesses and families need clean, reliable and affordable energy to continue to grow and prosper,” said Gov. Hassan.

Citing New Hampshire's clean energy accomplishmets, she said "this accord will build on our efforts, increasing bipartisan collaboration with other states to share best practices, to address our shared energy challenges, and to ensure that we continue to expand energy options for our businesses and families and advance our clean energy economy.”

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) said the accord will build a platform for the state to create more clean energy jobs.

“This bipartisan accord provides a platform for Nevada to leverage new partnerships, gain and share knowledge and an opportunity to introduce our energy advancements to other states,” Sandoval said in a statement. “I remain committed to pursue policies that will allow Nevada to continue to lead the nation in renewable energy production, energy conservation, and the exportation of energy.”

Two major solar companies have ceased operations after Nevada enacted a controversial net metering policy that decreased the retail rate for rooftop solar owners and failed to grandfather existing distributed solar owners into the original rates.