Curtis' win in conservative Utah could influence GOP climate stance

Utah Republican John Curtis’ U.S. Senate primary victory signals potential shifts in GOP climate policies.

Kelsey Brugger and Emma Dumain report for E&E News.

In short:

• U.S. Rep. John Curtis, known for his climate advocacy, won his primary, positioning himself for a U.S. Senate seat.
• Curtis founded the Conservative Climate Caucus to promote Republican engagement in climate science and bipartisan solutions.
• His legislative future may include the "PROVE IT Act," focused on studying carbon intensity of U.S. products.

Key quote:

“Does it verify or affirm that you can have a more thoughtful or nuanced position on climate issues and energy issues and still get elected statewide in a conservative state? Yes.”

— U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La), ranking member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Why this matters:

Curtis' win could lead to greater bipartisan cooperation on climate issues in a traditionally conservative state. His efforts to shift Republican perspectives on climate policy may impact national discussions and legislative actions.