Hrkman got a respectful, if not enthusiastic reception from state energy officials at the NASEO conference, many of whom are waiting to see if they will receive the billions in IRA and IIJA dollars they were awarded for a range of clean projects.

Nine of the world's largest makers of building heating and cooling equipment have signed on to support California's goal of having 6 million new electric heat pumps by 2030.

Western states produced a whirlwind of climate initiatives last year, advancing numerous bills and regulations to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

There’s a growing consensus in the West that green hydrogen could play a key role in decarbonizing the region’s energy system, but questions still loom around exactly how the fuel will be used in that effort.