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8 state and local elections that will affect climate policy in the US

How voters decide in these climate-central state elections will have impact on the future of the private sector. Read More

Several initiatives on state ballots for the Nov. 5 election will have an impact on sustainablity. Source: Visual Hunt/Tim Evanson

While the presidential race is commanding much of the attention in today’s U.S. election, the outcomes of many state and local races will certainly affect the future of climate policy in this country. Businesses need to know what races matter for their future, but it can be difficult to determine which candidate or ballot measure to keep an eye on.

So, here’s an updated breakdown of important races and ballot initiatives happening in key swing states across the country, and what the outcomes could mean for the future of climate policy and the private sector.

Texas: US Senate race

What’s this about: The race to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

Who’s on the ballot: Incumbent GOP Sen. Ted Cruz versus Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat.

Why you should care: Cruz has long denied that climate change is human-made and receives millions in donations from the fossil fuel industry. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate law passed in the U.S. — passed along party lines (51-50), with Cruz consistently showing disdain for the law that is bringing in billions of dollars in clean energy jobs. Allred’s campaign says he will continue to support responsible oil and gas production while pushing for necessary steps to limit methane leaks. Allred has helped secure $25 million for Texas to plug 800 orphan wells.

Cruz is also a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights, a subcommittee more important than ever following the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal the Chevron doctrine.

Arizona: The Arizona Corporate Commission

What’s this about: The Arizona Corporate Commission (ACC) — composed of five elected members serving 4-year terms — regulates Arizona water and power utilities, including the decision to approve the development of new power plants and expansions. The ACC determines how much profit utilities can make and how the state grid is built, maintained and expanded. Three of the five seats are up for election.

Who’s on the ballot: Democrats Ylenia Aguilar, Jonathon Hill and Joshua Polacheck and Republican Rene Lopez, Lea Márquez Peterson and Rachel Walden are running for three open seats. 

Aguilar, Hill and Polacheck are aligned in many of their views and running as a unit, hoping to secure the three open spots together. Their roles prior to running were as a member of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, an engineer at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Facility, and two decades in the nation’s foreign service.

Lopez, Peterson and Walden favor a mixed-approach to energy production in the state, including the continuation of fossil fuel production and development. Their previous roles include a Chandler City County vice mayor and an ACC incumbent running for reelection. On a podcast in January, Walden claimed that clean energy is not green but rather a ploy to support Chinese technology, concluding “that’s how the climate change ruse is used.”

Why you should care: In the past year alone, the Commission – currently composed of four Republicans and one Democrat – have approved expansions of gas power plants without environmental reviews and stripped a utility’s plan to compensate communities negatively affected by the closure of coal-fired power plants.

In an op-ed in the AZ Mirror, John Mitman, CEO of Obodo Energy and board president of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association, wrote that the ACC has the power to support “distributed solar and energy storage as an important tool in Arizona’s toolbox to complement continued utility-scale investment in the same technology as the lowest-cost resource. As a result, more Arizona communities are likely to invest in solar technology.”

California: Prop 4

What’s this about: According to CNRA’s Fourth Climate Assessment, the cost of climate change in California will reach $113 billion annually by 2050 if business-as-usual continues. In response, California lawmakers created Proposition 4.

What’s on the ballot: Voters will place a simple “Yes” or “No” vote for Prop 4.

Why you should care: Proposition 4 would allow California to borrow $10 billion by issuing bonds for natural resources and climate activities, including increasing clean energy production, flood and water “resilience,” and to address sea level rise.

Of the $10 billion: 

  • $3.8 billion will go toward water projects, 
  • $1.5 billion to wildfire prevention and forest resilience, 
  • $1.2 billion to protect coasts from sea level rise.

California will sell bonds to investors seeking funding for projects, then repaying the investor with added interest, over a fixed period of time. 

North Carolina: The governor’s race

What’s this about: The election for governor of North Carolina.

Who’s on the ballot: Attorney General Josh Stein (D) is running against Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) for governor. The race is happening in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which made a deadly landfall in North Carolina in late September. 

Why you should care: Since the Inflation Reduction Act’s passage in 2022, North Carolina has invested around $19 billion in clean energy and manufacturing projects and created 11,850 new jobs. As attorney general, Stein proposed an ultimately less expensive alternative to Duke Energy’s plan for carbon neutrality by 2050, and has pledged to put forth a plan that will see North Carolina reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Robinson is on the record for opposing the IRA and referring to climate change as “junk science.”

Pennsylvania: The race for attorney general

What’s this about: The election for attorney general of Pennsylvania.

Who’s on the ballot: In Pennsylvania, Eugene DePasquale (D) is running against David Sunday (R) for AG. DePasquale has a history of supporting climate policy. Instances include:

  • Served three years as deputy secretary of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Protection Department, where he helped secure the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, which requires utilities to include a specific percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources;
  • As the state’s auditor general, DePasquale conducted an investigation into whether DEP’s oversight of Marcellus Shale Drillers was transparent enough to hold violators of environmental protection to account.

Sunday, a prosecutor with the York County District Attorney’s Office, has offered no public stance on climate or sustainability. His campaign website doesn’t offer any guidance regarding his views on climate change and in public speeches and debates, he’s instead focused on other matters, including his stance on crime and social media.

Why you should care: Attorneys general are often coined the “lawyer of the people,” work primarily to ensure constituents are protected and defended from unjust practices. The AG has the power to push for change if it’s for the betterment of constituents. In 2022, AGs from California, Pennsylvania, New York and 13 other states sued the U.S. Postal Service for refusing to transition its aging delivery fleet to electric vehicles, while in that same year, California’s AG led a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in defense of the Environmental Protection Agency’s newly released car emission standards.

Washington: Repealing cap-and-trade

What’s this about: In 2021, Washington instituted the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The law places a cap on the amount of carbon pollution allowed from companies within the state. Under the CCA, facilities purchase allowances for emissions, with the set cap decreasing in size annually while the price per allowance increases. 

Opponents want to repeal the CCA over claims that it has led to a marked rise in gas prices and cost of living.

What’s on the ballot: In the upcoming election, Washington residents have the chance to repeal the 2021 cap-and-trade law Initiative 2117 not only allows voters to repeal the law, but it also prohibits the implementation of any future cap-and-trade investment programs. 

Why you should care: Since its inception, CCA has raised more than $2 billion in allowance fees collected from companies, resulting in public service benefits such as electric buses and ferries, electric vehicle charging stations and the development of a large-scale solar project by the Yakama Nation. 

The available funds collected from the CCA are also redistributed through clean energy grants for businesses. Mining company Fortescue received a $20 million grant to convert its Washington mine into a clean hydrogen plant.

Pennsylvania: 10th Congressional District

What’s this about: The race to represent Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.

Who’s on the ballot: Republican Rep. Scott Perry versus Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson.

Why you should care: Perry consistently shows disdain and disbelief for the scientific conclusion proving the existence of climate change, going so far as to label former U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, and other signers of the Paris Climate Agreement, “grifters.” Perry also champions the repeal of sections of the Inflation Reduction Act. Stelson, a former TV journalist, has said during her campaign she supports the “most significant piece of climate legislation in our nation’s history, which ensures the U.S. transitions to clean energy and meets our climate goals. This legislation has already created two new clean energy projects, 125 jobs, and $14.2 million in private sector investments” in the 10th Congressional District.

Arizona: Phoenix mayoral race

What’s this about: The mayoral race in Phoenix.

Who’s on the ballot: Democratic incumbent Kate Gallego versus GOP challenger and software engineer Matt Evans.

Why you should care: As mayor, Gallego led the release of Phoenix’s first Climate Action Plan Progress Report, which cited achievements such as expanding the city’s light rail system, electrifying Phoenix’s bus and vehicle fleet and reaching an overall decrease in emissions by 20.5 percent since 2012. 

While both candidates express concern over water usage and conservation, Evans doesn’t address climate change anywhere else on his campaign website. Meanwhile, Gallego serves as vice chair to the Climate Mayor network, an initiative that brings together local leaders across the country to make a lasting impact on local climate policy.

UPDATED: The story was updated from an original version to include the Phoenix mayoral race; the U.S Senate election in Texas and the congressional race in Pennsylvania’s 10th district.

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