The clean energy transition requires leaders at every level of government working to ensure that we realize its benefits for everyone in our communities, from creating good-paying jobs to lowering energy prices.  

That is why Secretary Granholm sat down with three mayors leading the charge on climate action in states grappling with climate impacts and the energy transition. You won’t want to miss this conversation with Secretary Granholm and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. These local leaders have led by passing and enacting comprehensive Climate Action Plans and have all been in leadership positions in “Climate Mayors” and leading “C40 Cities”. 

Mayor LaToya Cantrell, City of New Orleans 

Mayor Cantrell is a member of the Climate Mayors Steering Committee and member of the C40 Cities network, which includes a commitment to equitable growth for the City and a commitment to divest from fossil fuel companies and champion investments in the green economy. Climate Action for a Resilient New Orleans outlines 27 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030. 

Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston 

Mayor Turner is the Chair of Climate Mayors, a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Resilient Cities Network and a member of C40. In 2020, Mayor Turner launched Resilient Houston, a framework to help the city mitigate flooding risks and improve climate readiness. Resilient Houston sets 18 high-level targets, corresponding with the strategy’s 18 goals that will be used to measure the progress and impact of the city’s resilience work. 

Mayor Kate Gallego, City of Phoenix  

Mayor Gallego is a current member of Climate Mayors and a member of the C40 Cities Steering Committee which provides strategic oversight. The City of Phoenix Climate Action Plan lays out a goal to become a carbon-neutral city by 2050 operating on 100 percent clean energy and make all new buildings “net positive" by 2050 in both energy use and materials. 

One way the Department of Energy is investing in local climate action is through our new Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program), which supports environmental justice communities and communities with historical ties to fossil fuel industries to build their clean energy future.  

The Communities LEAP pilot program provides supportive services valued at up to $16 million to help communities develop locally-driven energy plans to more effectively leverage public and private sector resources to reduce local air pollution, increase energy resilience, lower utility costs and energy burdens, and create good-paying jobs. In March, DOE announced the first 23 communities, including New Orleans, to participate in this pilot.  

Learn more about how DOE is engaging with state and local government here.  

More episodes of People Powered are on deck, featuring topics like clean energy entrepreneurship and innovation. People Powered showcases informal, genuine conversations featuring energy communities, innovators, activists, workers and leaders on exciting ideas that power the climate movement.