Updates from the Election Landscape: Week of August 5

Road to The White House

New “Grassroots” Swing State Climate Campaign Funded By Major Progressive Dark Money Group: Science Moms, a “nonpartisan group of scientists” working to fight climate change, “is spending $2.5 million on a new advertising campaign about ‘unnatural disasters’ in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, and other swing states until Sept. 30 in the lead-up to the November elections.” In the campaign, Science Moms called the election the “last, best chance to protect all the places you love” at a time when “Climate change is taking the places we love.” Notably, “while Science Moms appears to position itself as apolitical and grassroots, it actually shares a connection to Arabella Advisors, a consulting firm that doubles as the largest Democratic-aligned dark money network in the United States.” Science Moms is “an initiative of the Potential Energy Coalition, a former project of an Arabella-managed dark money group called the Windward Fund.” According to Republican political strategist Alec Sears, “Any group with ties to Arabella Advisors is no grassroots organization… Dark money ad buys in swing states are a strategy designed purely to drive the political agenda of the billionaires behind Arabella and its funds.”
 
Climate Advocates Celebrate After Kamala Picks Walz: After Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, climate activists celebrated. Walz, who is “one of the nation’s most forceful climate advocates,” led his state to adopt “some of the most ambitious climate policies in the nation,” including an aggressive goal to reach net-zero by 2040. Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous argued Walz will “see to it that we do all we can to avoid the very worst of the climate crisis,” while Sunrise Movement organizer Stevie O’Hanlon lauded Walz for “pitching climate action as a way to make people’s everyday lives better, create good-paying green jobs and invest in making communities stronger.” Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore also celebrated Walz’s selection, calling him “a proven leader on climate” who “knows the issue inside and out” with valuable “climate credentials.” In all, Walz’s selection has climate activists thrilled about a potential Harris-Walz Administration that “will turbocharge climate action.”
 
While Republicans And Critics Sound The Alarm: Meanwhile, Republicans and critics are sounding the alarm over Walz’s climate record. National Review’s Andrew Follet declared Walz “has an unquestioning devotion to the loudest, most radical environmentalist voices … with a record of falling for environmentalist scams and blocking conventional-energy development.” The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow argued the “affable” Walz and his environmental policies have been devastating for Minnesota and claimed “he will sell militant action on climate change and deny their noxious effects with a smile on his face.” Always On Research’s Isaac Orr similarly contended Walz “pretends to be this affable Minnesota dad who wears buffalo plaid, and it’s a bait and switch, and then you get the most progressive policy possible.” Orr added, “Walz has never seen a California-style energy policy that he didn’t try to emulate in the state of Minnesota.” 
 
And Others Focus On Whether Kamala’s Climate Record Hurts Or Helps: While Walz’s selection has generated a buzz among climate activists and Harris opponents alike, others are concerned over whether Harris’s own climate record will be a boon to her campaign or an albatross. University of California, Santa Barbara associate professor Leah Stokes recently celebrated Harris’s record, arguing she “has been ahead of her time” when “it comes to protecting people and the planet” and “her vision for a cleaner environment has slowly but surely made its way into law.” However, Globe and Mail reporter Kelly Cryderman warns, “Harris’s energy policies could be her Achilles’ heel, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania, “which produces almost as much natural gas as Texas.” These worries come at a time when residents in Harris’s own state face “soaring electricity prices” and her campaign remains silent on whether she would endorse a carbon tax this election, as she did in 2020. Harris and her campaign, which have already attempted to backtrack on her previous energy policy statements, will face more questions as the election goes on. According to André Béliveau, from the Pennsylvania-based free-market think tank Commonwealth Foundation, “Harris’ turnaround on fracking is a purely political calculation. If Harris wants people, especially those living in swing states like Pennsylvania, to take her and her policies seriously, she can’t promise to destroy jobs and drain investment.”

Battle for Congress

Casey And McCormick On Energy In PA: Incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D) and his Republican challenger, Dave McCormick, recently “explained that they both support fracking and are for all forms of energy throughout the state.” However, while Casey defended his record, McCormick argued “more could be done.” Casey claimed he supports “all sources of energy” but “we have to continue to take the steps that we have taken over the last number of years by incentivizing newer job creation in the clean energy space.” McCormick argued voters in the state “need to know that Casey votes 98% of the time with the Biden-Harris agenda, it is not too much of a leap to think he is going to be with Kamala Harris every step of the way.” McCormick added, “[Casey] said [Harris] is going to be great, he said when Pennsylvanians voters get to know her they are going to love her, I do not think so.” 
 
Meet The Candidates For The U.S. House In AK: The Alaska Beacon recently asked a range of candidates running for Alaska’s at-large congressional district to “speak on what’s at stake.” These candidates and their views on energy policy include: 

• Mary Peltola (D), the incumbent for Alaska’s at-large congressional district. Peltola claims to support oil drilling in Alaska but has occasionally voted against certain drilling measures. She also claims to prioritize Alaska-specific policy areas such as fisheries and consumer issues. 

• Nick Begich (R), who is running for Alaska’s at-large congressional district. Begich advocates for increased development and believes Alaska has a critical role in energy production, including oil and gas. He supports policies that enhance the state's development capabilities and criticizes restrictions on fossil fuel development. 

• Nancy Dahlstrom (R), the lieutenant governor of Alaska who is running for the state’s at-large congressional district. Dahlstrom has received Trump’s endorsement and strongly supports oil and gas drilling as central to Alaska’s economy. She claims she aligns with his energy policies, including reopening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling. She also criticizes policies that restrict fossil fuel development.

• John Wayne Howe (Alaskan Independence Party), who is also running for Alaska’s at-large congressional district. Howe criticizes the federal government's control over Alaska and advocates for a system where individuals can direct funds to specific programs. He also suggests that all oil revenue in Alaska should be distributed directly to Alaskan residents.

Allred Aims To Navigate Line Between Industry And Communities: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate against Ted Cruz, recently visited Corpus Christi, where he discussed “his goal of uniting Americans across the political spectrum, including those who work or who have friends or family who work in the energy sector,” which he “hopes … could be the key to helping him gain the votes to unseat Cruz.” Allred met with local residents concerned about industry development and argued, “We have to try and meet our needs for our industry and our economy in a way that is empathetic and understanding, and also try to do it with minimal invasiveness for communities.” Allred noted it is “a difficult balance at times” but residents need “somebody who will be an advocate for people while also understanding that we need to make some of these investments, because literally hundreds of thousands of jobs are tied to some of these projects.” 
 
Potential Warren Challenger Ian Cain Talks Climate: Quincy City Council chairman Ian Quinn, who is running in September’s Republican primary to compete against U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) this November, recently gave a “meet the candidate” interview to GBH News. On climate and energy, Cain stated he was not a “climate catastrophist” and claimed he “worked on ways to wean countries off fossil fuels with a variety of other sources” during his time in the “energy business.” Cain claims to “support increasing energy production in the United States, including gas,” and added, “There are certain advantages I also see from … looking at more domestic production, looking at alternative sources of energy, like nuclear, so that we can make sure that we have adequate power and energy needs. Especially in places where we have fragile infrastructure and we’re relying on foreign power.”

In the States

In The Northeast:

 
Pingree In ME Catches Flak For Flying While Climate Proselytizing: U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), who is running for re-election to Maine’s 1st Congressional District, came under fire after scolding voters on climate while flying business class. Pingree, who once told voters “to wear hand-me-downs to fight climate change … expensed over $100,000 in business class flights, luxury hotels and dining while her and her team clocked in over 130,000 miles around the globe.” According to Maine Wire, “Pingree, who prides herself on fighting climate change, was responsible for roughly 15.98 metric tons of emissions” while jet-setting around the world to places like Japan, Norway, Italy, and Germany. Pingree “has long been associated with her strong views on climate change, and has frequently pushed for renewable energy subsidies, like solar panels and wind farms” and “even shared a video of herself to her socials speaking of her worries of what the world will be like for her children and seven grandchildren.” 
 
State Senator Yaw In PA Targeted Over CCS Legislation: Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw (R), who is running for re-election, is under fire after his carbon capture legislation was signed into law. Karen Elias, a member of Climate Change Theatre Action, penned a letter to the editor of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette alleging the legislation, which was “signed by the governor without a hearing or opportunity for discussion, is yet another land grab by the fossil fuel industry.” Elias claimed the bill was crafted “To shore up that industry in the face of increasingly convincing critiques of its harms to human health and the environment” while creating “concerns about earthquakes, contamination of our water supplies, and possible explosions.” Elias concluded, “With further education, this dangerous bill could be subject to repeal.”
 
While Yaw Targets Shapiro Over His Energy Policies: Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw (R) penned an op-ed criticizing Governor Josh Shapiro (D) over his climate policies. Yaw claimed that “we have all heard Gov. Josh Shapiro complain that he is tired of getting his ‘ass kicked’ by other states,” especially Ohio, but now “Pennsylvania is also next in line to get an old-fashioned ‘whooping’ by West Virginia.” Yaw noted his state has more natural gas than West Virginia, “but our governor is more interested in solar panels,” pointing to Shapiro’s “initiative that will provide 50% of the commonwealth government’s electricity from renewable sources.” According to Yaw, “So, while Ohio takes our economic development and West Virginia takes our experienced workforce, our governor is competing with California for solar panels… In the meantime, we find ourselves asking: how does this ‘leadership’ benefit Pennsylvanians?” 
 
Making Big Oil Pay In NJ: New Jersey State Senator John McKeon (D) was interviewed by the Star-Ledger on his new bill to make “big oil pay for climate damage” in the state. During the interview, McKeon acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying the exact cost but “conservative[ly]” estimated that industry must pay “multiple billions” annually for property loss and the need for resiliency against inevitable climate change-related damages. McKeon’s legislation seeks payback for the damage caused by emissions since 1995 but not for deceptive practices. According to McKeon, “We’re giving them the benefit of doubt that they didn’t recognize the profound damage… But once they certainly knew, they continued to produce and to profit at record levels.” McKeon added, “I’m optimistic that Democratic leadership in both houses will get it to the governor’s desk before the end of his term.” 

In The Southeast:

Castor Leads Letter Calling For Stronger Pollution Rules On Power Plants: U.S. House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition member U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), who is running for re-election in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, led a letter to the U.S. EPA “urging the agency to adopt strong, comprehensive standards for existing gas-fired power plants.” The letter lauded “EPA’s commitment to setting meaningful and comprehensive pollution standards for our nation’s power plants” and urged the agency “to adopt final rules on existing gas-fired power plants that include the strongest possible standards to limit greenhouse gases and other pollutants.” The letter called on the agency to address “all types of gas plants and their cumulative impacts” while conducting “robust stakeholder engagement as part of this process,” including in “environmental justice communities.”

 
In The Southwest:

Arizona Public Health Association Sends Policy Brief To Corporation Commission Candidates: The Arizona Public Health Association (APHA) released a candidate policy brief for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). In the brief, APHA declared, “As candidates for the [ACC] in 2024, it is imperative to grasp the public health implications of your decisions, particularly concerning utility rate increases and clean energy initiatives.” APHA’s brief focused “on the intersection of public health, clean energy, and air quality, and provides key questions to guide ACC decision-making.” Notably, the brief argued that “Transitioning to renewable energy sources is crucial for reducing pollution and combating climate change” and claimed that “Energy efficiency is a cost-effective strategy to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills.” 

In The Midwest:

 
Former County Commissioner Criticizes Commission For Stonewalling New Energy Projects In Northeast OH: Craig Covey, a retired former community organizer, mayor, county commissioner, and public health educator, penned an op-ed criticizing the Stark County Commission’s decision to block large-scale solar and wind energy projects. Covey questioned the commission’s current Republican leadership's shift away from supporting business and economic development, arguing the commissioners and residents “should be putting out the welcome mat and encouraging new business and industry to come here… Yet the response from our political and business leaders has been negative, if not hostile.” Covey argued that “Stark County and Ohio are great places to live and raise families, with friendly people, pleasant seasons and a decent cost of living” and contended, “We could return to growth and prosperity if only our state and county politicians and community leaders finally could embrace the future.” 
 
State Rep. Zeleznikar Goes After DFL In MN Over Climate Absolutism: Minnesota State Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar (R), who is running for re-election this year, recently accused Minnesota Democratic–Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) leader Peggy Donahue of “gaslighting” and omitting truth in a recent op-ed condemning Zeleznikar for supporting pro-life legislation. While the offending op-ed did not address climate, Zeleznikar argued “Democrats used this same all-or-nothing approach to a new clean-energy mandate for wind and solar by 2040.” According to Zeleznikar, “I believe Northlanders want the freedom to heat their homes how they want and drive the vehicles of their choice, not those dictated by the government,” as well as “a comprehensive plan that includes natural gas, diesel, coal, nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar ensures reliability and affordability.” She added, “The 100% mandate does not reflect this and instead imposes an unreasonable ideology that does not consider the needs of northern Minnesotans.” 
 
State House Candidate Trombley On Her Priorities In MI: Lisa Trombley, a Republican running for Michigan State House’s 103rd District, recently penned a “meet the candidate” article for the Old Mission Gazette outlining her policies. According to Trombley, “The priorities most frequently raised by voters across the district include getting Lansing’s financial house in order; ensuring proper investment in our infrastructure and education; empowering small businesses, instead of government, so they — and their employees — can thrive.” As a part of this, Trombley advocates for the promotion of “affordable and reliable energy policies” while “protecting our Great Lakes and natural resources.” Trombley added, “These challenges are not partisan, and our Representatives in Lansing should be held accountable to work together to address them.” 

In The Mountain West:

Fox On Energy And Climate In WY House District 56: Pete Fox, a Republican candidate for House District 56 in Wyoming, shared his views on climate and the environment in a Q&A with Oil City News. Fox, with over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, expressed particular interest in serving on the Minerals, Business, and Economic Development Committee, citing his background and the importance of attracting and retaining young families to ensure Wyoming’s future economic success. Overall, Fox advocates for a balanced approach to energy policy, integrating his experience in the oil and gas industry with a commitment to addressing state revenue, utility affordability, and healthcare improvements.
 
Candidates In WY Detail Their Positions On Environmental Policy: In Wyoming, Cap City News published a new series of interviews with several candidates for various offices across the state, who discussed their approach to climate and environmental policies. These candidates and their positions include: 

• Jenny Hixenbaugh, a nonpartisan candidate for mayor of Cheyenne, WY. Hixenbaugh aims to transition Cheyenne to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower the city's carbon footprint while implementing programs that “encourage energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and municipal buildings.” Hixenbaugh also pledged to work “with neighboring cities, counties, and environmental organizations to address climate change at a regional level” and prioritize “renewable energy, energy efficiency, public transportation, green building practices, recycling and waste reduction, protecting green spaces.” 

• Darin Smith (R), who is running for Senate District 6 in Wyoming. Smith's supports the continued development of traditional energy sectors, such as coal, without unnecessary federal regulations and “fully utilizing Wyoming’s abundant energy resources while reducing unnecessary regulations” to “maintain our energy independence and drive economic growth.” Smith also believes “Advancing traditional energy sources has always[s] led to huge advancements in technology and a cleaner environment through free market forces,” so the state “should focus on leveraging our natural resources to support our state’s economy and energy needs without undue interference.

•  Ben Hornok (R), who is running for House District 42 in Wyoming. Hornok argued “Wyoming should not let our traditional industries go down without a fight” and claimed the state has “yet to be given a dependable alternative to coal, oil and natural gas, so we must fight against the Left’s, including the current President’s administration, attack on these industries.” Hornok contended, “Wyoming’s economy will diversify naturally if our government stays out of the way by reduced regulations and low taxes and the free market is allowed to run its course,” and added, “If we can ensure Wyoming is the conservative state that the rest of the nation thinks it is, we will attract businesses and the individuals that are needed for the workforce.” 
   

In The Pacific West:

 
CFACT Advocates For Repeal Of WA’s Climate Law: Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow’s Steve Goreham published an op-ed arguing Washington state’s climate law, the Climate Commitment Act, “will have a negligible effect on the climate, but if not repealed, it will continue to significantly raise fuel, food, and utility prices in Washington State.” Goreham noted the legislation “faces the possibility of repeal this fall,” and while “Governor Jay Inslee and others claim the CCA will reduce pollution and help stop climate change,” the bill “isn’t having the slightest effect on the climate, while boosting the cost of living for Washington residents.” According to Goreham, “Why is it that climate policies never have a measurable goal? None of our leaders can say that a given policy will reduce temperatures by so many hundreds or tenths of a degree, or reduce sea level rise by so many hundreds or tenths of an inch, or reduce the number of storms by a tangible amount, even if added to other policies.” He contended, “Fighting climate change is like raising an army and never taking a hill or building a hospital and never serving a patient,” and concluded, “the citizens of Washington State should reject climatism” this fall. 

In The Gulf South:

 
Public Service Commission Candidates For District 2 Get Scrutiny In LA: Baton Rouge Proud published an article reporting on the candidates for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 2. These candidates include state senator Jean-Paul Coussan (R), former state senator Julie Quinn (R), and Nick Laborde (D). Laborde “comes from a long line of politicians but this would be his first elected office.” According to the article, Coussan “believes with major investments in the state coming from the current administration he can work through the PSC to make the state more attractive and evenly spread out costs.” Quinn supports “expanding into alternative energy sources but believes it can’t be done too quickly,” and Laborde “wants to pressure companies to harden their grid without costing consumers.” Laborde also pledged to “make Entergy pay more to invest in reform and accountability and sustainability so that we can do things that over the long term help our grid reduce the need to repair and rebuild.” The Alliance for Affordable Energy, an influential environmental watchdog in Louisiana, promoted the article on social media. 

Outside Voices

 
Biden’s Record On EVs Should Earn Thanks From EV Advocates: Peter Douglas, a climate change reporter focused on EVs who writes for Mercury News, contended the Biden Administration has made significant strides in promoting EV adoption and should be praised for those efforts. According to Douglas, “Those of us who advocate strongly for EVs out of concern for the environment owe a great debt of gratitude to President Biden for the supportive transportation policies enacted by his administration.” Douglas celebrated the Inflation Reduction Act for its EV provisions to boost EV sales, enhance manufacturing capacity in North America, and expand charging infrastructure, and argued, “Decades from now, when road transportation has been fully decarbonized, a grateful nation can look back with fondness on the foresight and vigor of our 46th president.” 
 
NY Lawyer Discusses The Retreat Of The “Green Economy” And “Net Zero” Initiatives: Francis J. Menton, Jr., a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, penned a blog post discussing the growing skepticism and retreat from the “green economy” and “net zero” initiatives in both Europe and the United States. Menton pointed to the significant withdrawal of major U.S. fund managers like J.P. Morgan Chase, State Street, and Black Rock from Climate Action 100+, resulting in a nearly $14 trillion exit, and he criticized the unrealistic goals of these climate policies using New York’s inability to meet its renewable energy targets as an example. According to Fenton, “So far all of our politicians are in a state of denial,” and “The only slight concession to reality is some talk of maybe postponing the 2030 deadline a few years, such as to 2033,” but “The fact is that they will be no closer to meeting the 70% target in 2033 than they will be in 2030, and in fact it will never be met because… they need ‘dispatchable emissions free resources’ that don’t exist and won’t exist.” 

Trends in Energy is your weekly look at key trends affecting the energy industry, brought to you by the competitive intelligence experts at Delve. As the political and regulatory landscape continues to shift, reach out to learn how our insights can help you navigate these challenges.