"Big Utility PACs Favor GOP In High-Stakes 2024 Races"

"While Republicans are the main beneficiaries, in the narrowly divided Senate, power companies hedged their bets with donations to some Dems"

"Investor-owned power companies in the United States made more than $10 million in campaign donations to state and congressional candidates running in the 2024 election, according to a new report by the Energy and Policy Institute, a utility watchdog.

Power companies and their political action committees (PACs) have funneled $13.6 million into federal campaigns as of Oct.17, primarily directed at Republican candidates and committees.

This financial push underscores these companies’ efforts to secure regulatory environments favorable to their interests, often slowing the transition to green energy in the process. Even though cheaper, cleaner forms of energy are available — such as wind and solar — many U.S. power companies make billions primarily by burning climate-destabilizing fossil fuels.

On the local level, Floodlight has found that in the 10 states where public service commission regulators are elected, a significant portion — on average 35% — of donations are tied to utilities and fossil-fuel related interests."

Mario Alejandro Ariza reports for Floodlight November 4, 2024.

 

Source: Floodlight, 11/06/2024