Energy Bills Drive Voters to Support Clean Energy Candidates

Rising energy costs are becoming a powerful force in American politics, with recent election results showing voters increasingly support candidates who promise clean energy solutions to lower utility bills.

This trend was most visible in Georgia, where two Democrats won seats on the state’s Public Service Commission for the first time in nearly two decades. Their victory came after a campaign focused on addressing six rate increases over two years, with winners promising to invest in renewable energy and smarter grid infrastructure. Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey also secured wins after making energy affordability central to their campaigns.

The political power of energy costs extends beyond elections. When the Trump administration initially planned to eliminate the popular Energy Star program, which saves Americans $40 billion annually in utility bills, a swift backlash from Republicans, Democrats, and major corporations forced officials to quietly reconsider. The program’s signature blue label has become nearly as recognizable as major brand logos.

“When you say ‘climate,’ that seems too far in the future for people,” explains Dan Jasper from Project Drawdown. “But when you put it in terms of everyday expenditures, people start to listen.” With energy prices rising twice as fast as inflation and midterm elections approaching, both parties are grappling with how to address voter concerns about utility bills. The issue could particularly impact states like Texas, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, which have experienced significant rate increases in recent years.