The idea of “cooperative federalism” began with the New Deal in the 1930s
On November 5, 2022, it’s time for Cooperative Federalism again.
Originally posted in Forbes/Opinion
By Stephen Heins
The idea of “cooperative federalism” began with the New Deal in the 1930s when it came to include a division of responsibilities among the states and the federal government agencies of electric power and distribution. By the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the EPA set the minimum standards for states to best implement their individual utility plans to meet air pollution goals with approval of the EPA.
This dynamic partnership, with the State Utility Commissioners, state utilities, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy, state and regional transmission lines has lasted for almost 80 years with very positive impacts.
More importantly, this state and federal electrical grid partnership developed the necessary long-term planning expertise, engineering sophistication, vast financing mechanisms and political mandate to develop the most robust electrical grid in the world. It also had “the machinery for change,” as Leonard Cohen put it.
https://thepracticalenvironmentalist.com/2015/03/04/clean-power-plan-epa-given-cooperative-federalism/