You wouldn’t know it from reading national headlines, but some of the most meaningful progress on clean energy and climate is happening in places that seem least likely. Utah is a deeply conservative, energy producing state. Our state rock is coal, after all.

After spending the past two and a half decades working to reduce Utah’s reliance on polluting energy in favor of more innovative, efficient homes and buildings, and clean, renewable power, I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible. Utah has the potential to become the conservative state that leads the nation on climate solutions.

When I founded Utah Clean Energy in 2001, around 94% of the state’s electricity generation came from coal; that share is now down to 45%. Back then, talking about zero-emissions buildings or communities powered by wind, solar and energy storage was like speaking a different language.

Today, Utah ranks sixteenth in the nation in solar deployment, with enough solar, wind and storage to power a million homes with homegrown energy while bringing billions of dollars in investment to rural communities. Utah is also leading new energy innovation with next-generation geothermal technology. One new geothermal power plant is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity while delivering clean power to thousands of households around the clock. If we can make this kind of progress in a place like Utah, we can do it anywhere. The key to our continued success is to connect back to our shared values.

When I launched Utah Clean Energy, I assumed that if people understood the science connecting fossil fuels to climate change and the impacts on our air quality, water and health, they would want to act. I was wrong. Facts matter, but they rarely change people’s minds on their own. What changes minds is trust and working from a place of shared values. At the end of the day, we all care about our families, our livelihoods and the strength of our communities. These priorities don’t change just because the conversation is about climate change.

Back in the day, my first major ally was an unlikely one: Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman, a former chemical company executive. On paper, we had little in common. But we found common ground in wanting clean air and a stable climate for our kids. Under Huntsman, Utah developed its first climate plan in 2007. That work helped lay the foundation for the transformation that followed. Not because we won an ideological fight, but because we built relationships rooted in mutual understanding.

That approach became Utah Clean Energy’s philosophy. We never lead with blame; we lead with solutions. We leaded with what we want to build, not what we want to tear down. We focus on principles that unite people across political divides: responsibility, economic opportunity and protecting what we love.

We have so many advantages now that didn’t exist when I started this work. Today, solar, wind, and energy storage are the most cost-effective and fastest-growing new energy resources. Geothermal technology is evolving to provide enough 24/7 pollution-free electricity to power entire neighborhoods and towns. High-performance homes and energy-efficiency retrofits are more accessible and effective at cutting costs than ever before.

The simple truth is that the solutions to climate change make our lives better. Clean cars that are more fun to drive, better homes that are more comfortable and affordable, and pollution free energy that is reliable and locally produced. This all leads to stronger communities with clean air, clean water and a vibrant quality of life.

The only thing missing is the will to act at the scale and pace necessary to bring these benefits to every American in every state. Finding that will in a time of political polarization and entrenched ideologies around energy is challenging, but far from impossible. As I reflect on my 25 years advocating for clean energy in Utah, I see a path forward for the nation toward abundance and prosperity built on mutual respect, shared values and collaboration rather than division and deadlock.