In this episode of Recharged with the State Impact Center, we talk to Dana Johnson, policy advocate, fundraiser, government affairs consultant, and founder of Strategic Movement Collective LLC, and Joshua Low, Partnerships Director at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. We discuss polling data and what people think about climate change, along with the importance of connecting to people through storytelling (yes, even in legal practice!). We also do a case study on clean energy: what the data says, how to translate that data into a message, and how to address opposing messages.

You’ll hear the word “appropriations” in this episode. An appropriation is a law of Congress that delegates budget authority to federal agencies.

• Climate Change in the American Mind: Read the various reports by YPCCC that investigate, track, and explain public climate change knowledge, risk perceptions, policy support and behavior.
• Global Warming’s Six Americas: Learn more about the six unique audiences within the American public that each respond to climate change in their own distinct way (and take their quiz to find out which of the Six Americas you are in!)
• Voters Say Lawmakers Should Listen to Communities Over Fossil Fuel Interests: Read Dana’s blog post breaking down a Data for Progress and WE ACT survey on energy permitting and the Environmental Justice for All Act.
• Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming, Fall 2024: Read more about the YPCCC study conducted in late 2024 that, among other things, looked at public perceptions of federal agencies in terms of climate change.
• Americans’ support for climate justice: Learn about what Americans think of climate justice in this YPCCC article, which Dana helped with.
• Fifteen AGs Sued Federal Administration Over “National Energy Emergency”: Check out how AGs are pushing back against the federal administration’s bypassing of environmental review projects for energy projects.

We talk to Carrie Zalewski, former Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission and current Vice President of Transmission and Electricity Markets at American Clean Power Association. Together with our Regulatory Director, Sean Moriarty, she talks about connecting renewable energy to the grid, the importance of reliability and affordability when it comes to energy, and why state utility commissions are cool.

You’ll hear the words “PJM” and “MISO” in this episode. These are grid operators. PJM covers all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia in the mid-Atlantic. MISO covers all or parts of 15 central states.

• American Clean Power Association - Read more about the work of the American Clean Power Association to power a stronger, cleaner economy.
• Climate and Equitable Jobs Act - Learn about the 2021 Illinois law aimed at easing costs for energy customers and reducing emissions.
• “Costs to build gas plants triple, says CEO of NextEra Energy” - Read more about Carrie’s mention of the time it takes to build a gas turbine while discussing the need for speed.
• Tracking Transmission Reform - Learn about why transmission reform is a critical aspect of climate response and what’s at stake, and check out what’s being said about transmission in the media.

Judge Doug Nazarian of the Appellate Court of Maryland speaks with his former law clerk, Kat O’Konski, about career paths in state government and state energy regulation. Together, they discuss Judge Nazarian’s past experience regulating utilities as Chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission and his path to the bench, offering unique insights for law students and professionals alike.

• Appellate Court of Maryland - Read about the structure and role of the court.
• Maryland Public Service Commission - Learn about the Maryland Public Service Commission, including the current commissioners.
• Judicial Clerkship Guide - Check out this guide to state court judicial clerkships.
• National Association of Regulatory Utilities (NARUC) Careers - Learn about career opportunities in public service commissions.