This annual scorecard goes beyond greenhouse gas reductions or renewable generation capacity to evaluate how state policies help or hinder local clean energy action — because community power is necessary for an equitable, democratic transition away from the status quo. The states that score the highest support locally owned distributed generation, empower communities to pursue their own goals, and plan for an equitable transition to clean energy. High scoring states also hold utilities accountable, protecting ratepayers from inflated costs and other abuses of monopoly power. 

Of the 50 states and D.C., only one state scraped an above average grade (a B), 11 hit the C average, 13 received Ds, and 26 states received a failing F grade.

ILSR’s Community Power Scorecard evaluates state policies as they are written, not their implementation. The work of advancing energy democracy requires continued advocacy, vigilance, and effort. The 18 policies evaluated in the scorecard are worth a maximum of 88 points, and you can view state scores below.