TEMPE, Ariz. — Rising household electricity prices and debates over data centers are reshaping utility elections that play a critical role in energy policy across the United States.
In Arizona, the upcoming election for the Salt River Project board is seeing unprecedented engagement, with requests for early ballots tripling since the last election. The utility, which is the largest public utility in the country, faces pressure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and accommodate the burgeoning demand from data centers and semiconductor factories.
National political groups like Turning Point Action, traditionally mobilizing conservative voters, are advocating for candidates who oppose what they describe as “radical environmentalists,” while organizations associated with the Jane Fonda Climate PAC oppose candidates linked to the fossil fuel industry.
In Alabama, rising electricity prices have spurred a legislative overhaul of the Alabama Public Service Commission, shifting power to the governor. This change is part of an effort to introduce policy measures addressing affordability ahead of upcoming elections, mirroring recent Democratic successes in similar races in Georgia.
As both states prepare for pivotal elections, voters express varying degrees of concern over outside influences in local energy politics, particularly in Arizona where campaigning has intensified with grassroots efforts attempting to sway public opinion ahead of the polls.
