2025 Annual Report

Message from NCEL’s President, Hawai’i State Senator Chris Lee

Coming out of another pivotal year for our country, state legislatures have never been more important. Communities nationwide are facing rising electricity costs, insurance challenges, and public health concerns tied to environmental stressors. At the same time, federal rollbacks underscore a reality we know well: durable progress is built and sustained in the states.

This is where NCEL continues to lead. NCEL connects state leaders with intersectional, science‑based policy solutions that can withstand shifting federal dynamics. And the demand for this work has never been greater. 

At the 2025 NCEL National Forum, I spoke with legislators from rural, urban, and suburban communities who are all grappling with the same core challenge: delivering lasting environmental and economic benefits for their communities. They shared a clear message: lawmakers need trusted resources and a community of peers to help them lead with confidence and optimism in this moment. They want to understand what’s working in other states and how to adapt those solutions at home. And they rely on NCEL to help them do exactly that. 

As a state legislator and NCEL’s Board President, I’ve seen firsthand how NCEL’s growing portfolio of immersive experiences — like the Bay Area Electrification Tour and the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Workshop — is meeting this moment and equipping lawmakers with innovative yet practical solutions. I’m proud to help guide this work and am excited to expand NCEL’s offerings in the coming year.

Thank you to all the state legislators, staff, and partners who made 2025 such a success for NCEL. Here’s to the work ahead for our environment and communities.