Governors from 25 states have collectively pledged to install at least 20 million heat pumps by 2030, with the aim of "ensuring at least 40% of benefits flow to disadvantaged communities." If carried out, the pledge would effectively quadruple the number of heat pumps in use throughout constituent states.

The pledge was made at a Climate Week event in New York City last week. The governors call themselves the "U.S. Climate Alliance" and are led by the governors of Washington State, Maine, and New York. A full list of participating governors can be found online here.

In addition to the heat pump pledge, governors also promised to pursue specific policy actions:

• Ten states will explore adoption of zero-emission standards for space and water heating equipment (CA, CT, HI, MA, MD, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA).
• Eight states will explore adoption of Building Performance Standards like those enacted in CO, MD, OR, and WA (CA, CT, HI, MA, ME, NY, PA, RI).
• Eight states will explore development of clean heat standards (CT, HI, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, and RI).
• Five states will try to phase out fossil fuel use in new construction by 2027 (CA, MA, MD, NY, and WA).
• Twelve states will support development and adoption of advanced energy-efficient building codes that "maximize" electrification and "support solar energy and electric vehicle readiness" (CA, CO, CT, MA, MD, ME, NM, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA).

Ten states also promised to align building sector utility resource planning and procurement policies with state climate goals (CA, CT, HI, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OR, RI, WA). Hawaii and Maine further pledged to reduce direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions from state facilities by 50% in the next 10 years.

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