John Kemp

WASHINGTON — The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) today released a new report warning that New Jersey's climate mandates are driving a policy-induced affordability crisis that functions as an “Activist Tax” on households, raising energy costs, straining the power grid, and threatening public support for emissions reduction. As electricity prices surge and clean energy projects stall, the report finds that politically driven mandates are colliding with economic reality in ways that disproportionately burden working families.

BALANCING INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE WITH CLIMATE AMBITION Pennsylvania stands as a pivotal state in the American energy landscape, defined by a

WASHINGTON — A new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) finds that Pennsylvania has made significant progress reducing carbon emissions

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2026) — A new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) finds that Illinois has built one of the nation's cleanest and most affordable energy systems, but warns that calendar-driven mandates to phase out natural gas generation could undermine grid reliability, drive up costs, and push investment to neighboring states.

Exit represents a rejection of the production-control system dominated in recent years by Saudi Arabia

New Mexico is the nation's second-largest oil producer and fourth-largest gas producer. The oil and gas industry is the state's largest private sector funder and a massive driver of state budget revenues. Currently, the state is pursuing an aggressive 100% clean grid by 2045 and net-zero emissions by 2050. These goals were established by executive orders in 2019, but not enacted by the legislature. Unlike other energy-producing states like Pennsylvania and Illinois, New Mexico has no nuclear generation and very little hydropower for carbon-free baseload generation. The state's push for retiring gas generation without firm-power replacements that are fully scaled risks capacity shortfalls, price spikes, and driving industrial investments to other states.

WASHINGTON (June 4, 2026) — The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) today released a new report, “ ,” warning that the state's aggressive net-zero timeline could undermine grid reliability and energy affordability unless it is paired with firm, fully-scaled, carbon-free power. Authored by Neel Brown , Managing Director at PPI, and John Kemp , an internationally recognized expert on energy markets and systems, the report calls on policymakers to prioritize technology-neutral, outcome-based strategies over fixed net-zero dates.

Many states have had great early success in cutting their carbon emissions since enacting ambitious net-zero targets at the start of the 2020s. The declines occurred thanks mostly to the switch from coal to natural gas, though heavy investments in solar, driven by Biden-era tax credits, also played a role.

WASHINGTON (July 2, 2026) — The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) this week released a new report, “ Michigan's Climate Goals at a Crossroads ,” warning that the state's 100% clean energy mandate is on a collision course with rising electricity demand and could jeopardize grid reliability and the state's manufacturing base unless paired with firm, carbon-free power. Authored by Neel Brown , Managing Director at PPI, and John Kemp , an internationally recognized expert on energy markets and systems, the report calls on policymakers to shift from rigid fuel-mix mandates to a pragmatic, outcomes-based approach centered on emissions per capita.

Playbook is likely to be adopted by other countries, shaping markets