GOP gains in utility elections may slow state clean energy initiatives
GOP candidates lead key utility commission races in Arizona, Montana and Louisiana, potentially favoring fossil fuels over renewables as energy demand rises.
Gautama Mehta reports for Grist.
In short:
- Republican candidates won or are leading utility commission races in three states, all with histories of slow renewable energy adoption and controversial policies favoring traditional energy.
- Arizona’s commission may weaken its renewable goals, which lag behind states like Texas, despite Arizona’s solar potential.
- Louisiana and Montana elected commissioners with ties to fossil fuel interests, which may limit state transitions to renewable energy and increase ratepayer costs.
Key quote:
“You can’t make the problem worse and say you want to work hard to solve the problem.”
— Daniel Tait, researcher at the Energy and Policy Institute
Why this matters:
State utility commissions play a critical role in energy policy, and these Republican wins could shift priorities away from clean energy at a time when climate-driven storms and rising energy demands call for decisive action toward renewables. With regulated utilities able to fund campaigns, clean energy advocates worry these elections may hinder progress in transitioning to sustainable power.
Related: Clean energy investments transform GOP-led regions, creating a regional divide
