Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. This week, we’re covering the top issue for voters across the country: cost of living and rising energy costs.
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“The energy affordability crisis is a seismic event that will shape next year’s elections and beyond. In 2026, any candidate who supports a high-cost energy agenda will face an activated electorate ready to vote for change.”
— LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber on the impact of rising utility bills on the 2025 election and beyond.
“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do, we’ve got to address climate change, we’ve got to lower people’s power bills, we’ve got to make new businesses coming to the state, like data centers, pay their fair share. But now that we have these two seats on the Public Service Commission, that work can begin.”
— Georgia Public Service Commissioner-elect Peter Hubbard on Democrats’ wins in the Georgia Public Service Commission race and their plans to address rising utility costs.
“We’re going to produce more energy, and we’re going to lower costs, and we’re going to do it by producing more energy here in Virginia. And we’re going to make sure that large utility users pay their fair share.”
— Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger on her plans to tackle high energy costs and data centers in Virginia.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS SECURE WINS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT: Democrats in Virginia had a historic election night, securing more seats in the House of Delegates than they’ve had in three decades while sweeping all three statewide offices. Energy affordability was top of mind for Virginia voters, who are facing rising costs and utility bills from data centers. Virginia LCV’s Political Action Committee invested more than $3 million this cycle through field, mail, digital, and direct contributions, knocked over 208,000 doors, and mobilized more than 400 volunteers. Read more about Virginia LCV’s role in the 2025 elections.
VALCV TAKE: VALCV Executive Director Michael Town said, “Tonight was an incredible night for Democrats who ran and won on a message of putting Virginians – not big corporations – first, addressing rising energy costs, and standing up for an affordable, clean energy future. By and large this was a message that resonated with voters, and the incoming majority – the largest in three decades – now has a mandate to deliver on policies that cut energy bills, hold big corporations accountable, and secure our transition to an affordable, clean energy future. After four years of stalled progress in Virginia, we look forward to working with the new ‘Conservation Majority’ to get this done.”
AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY CHAMPIONS WIN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RACE IN GEORGIA: In a historic election, Dr. Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard were elected to Georgia’s Public Service Commission. These wins mark the first time a Democrat has won a statewide, nonfederal office in Georgia since 2006. Georgia Conservation Voters Action Fund (GCVAF) played an integral role in this race, spending more than $2.3 million this cycle and targeting over 1.8 million voters through billboards, SMS texting, direct mail and digital ads squarely focused on costs. GCVAF also published a webpage where voters could see just how much their bills have risen.
GCV TAKE: Georgia Conservation Voters Executive Director Brionté McCorkle said, “The message of this election is unmistakable: Georgians demand an end to utility bill rate hikes and corporate politics as usual on the PSC. Georgia Conservation Voters and our affiliated entities invested over $3 million in these elections, marking our largest investment ever because we had to make sure voters knew the stakes at the ballot box – from utility bills to corporate polluters.”
MIKIE SHERRILL WINS NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR’S RACE: In New Jersey, former Representative Mikie Sherrill celebrated a decisive victory in the governor’s race, beating her opponent Jack Ciatarelli by a wide margin. New Jersey LCV Victory Fund invested over $1.7 million in a campaign showcasing Ciatarelli’s costly energy policies, successfully driving up his unfavorability. Sherrill is a dedicated climate champion who has committed to declaring a statewide energy emergency and full rate freeze on day one in office to address rising utility costs and hold Big Polluters accountable.
NEW JERSEY LCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Executive Director Ed Potosnak said, “Mikie Sherrill’s historic win in Tuesday’s election marks a strong rebuke of the right-wing, MAGA agenda parroted by Jack Ciattarelli. The environment was on the ballot in the Garden State – and we were there from the beginning as the first issue group to endorse Mikie Sherrill for Governor and invested the largest ever to elect her because of her unflinching support for the environment and offensive to lower electricity costs by rapidly expanding the cheapest source of power, clean energy.
“Her victory ensures that a strong environmental champion will be taking the reins of our state, one who is laser-focused on lowering skyrocketing electricity prices with new sources of clean energy which is the cheapest source of power. We look forward to working with Governor-elect Sherrill and continuing New Jersey’s role as a national leader in environmental protection, safeguarding clean drinking water, preserving open spaces and advancing clean energy. We know that robust environmental policies create good union jobs, lower costs for working families, and ensure all New Jerseyans, regardless of zip code, can breathe clean air and drink pure water. Working together, we know that we can build a stronger and more prosperous future for ourselves and our children, one where clean energy powers our state, creates union jobs, improves public health, and lowers costs for overburdened families.”
MAINE REJECTS LIMITS ON VOTING: Voters in Maine rejected Question 1, a ballot measure that would limit absentee voting and impose onerous voter ID requirements. The state overwhelmingly voted to keep the current system in place, ensuring changes that may limit people from voting will not be enacted.
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters said, “Mainers from all over the state overwhelmingly said no to limits on absentee voting and harmful voter ID requirements. Mainers know our election system works and allows voters to cast their ballot in a way that best suits their needs. We have some of the highest voter turnout of ANY state in the country to prove it!
“Today, the message from voters is clear – our system works, and we don’t want changes that would stop people from voting. We are immensely proud of the coalition that drove these results and of the Mainers everywhere who made their voices heard. There are still many fights ahead, but please take a moment today to celebrate and enjoy this hard-earned victory.”
ENERGY AFFORDABILITY DRIVES DEMOCRATIC WINS ACROSS THE NATION: In Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia, Democratic candidates responded to voters’ concerns on energy cost and celebrated wins across the board. Decisive victories for Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, and Democratic candidates for Georgia Public Service Commission proved that electricity bills are the kitchen table issue driving Democratic wins in 2025 and beyond.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “In Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia there was a clear line drawn between candidates responding to voters’ concerns about energy costs with real solutions, and those toeing the MAGA party line. Candidates who ignore rising energy costs do so at their own peril. This election was a decisive rejection of the Trump Administration’s ban on clean energy, multi-million dollar taxpayer bailouts for expensive dirtier energy sources like coal, and other ineffective proposals that will make costs go even higher.
“Cost of living continues to be a major issue on voters’ minds, with rising energy costs among their top household budget concerns. Recent polling shows that the majority of voters believe that elected leaders have an impact on electricity costs. A majority of Americans also attribute rising costs to the GOP agenda, utility companies, and Big Oil CEOs. The reasoning is simple. The public understands that actively blocking the development of the cheapest and fastest-to-deploy power sources–wind, solar, and battery storage – only leads to more expensive options dominating the grid.”
SPEAKER EMERITA NANCY PELOSI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT: After a historic 20 terms in Congress, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek reelection. Pelosi is a dedicated climate champion and has worked tirelessly to fight for a healthy environment and democracy.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi is a tireless champion, trailblazer, and hero. She is the best ever Speaker of the House who has never stopped fighting for our climate, air, water, lands, and democracy, and she does it for all our children. We were honored to present her with our lifetime achievement award in 2023, and we are forever grateful for her unparalleled leadership.”
ON THE BLOG: In what feels like the first time in a year, we’re celebrating (!!) this week on The Power Source Blog! Read about how energy affordability influenced key elections across the country and about the incredible wins LCV and the Conservation Voter Movement (CVM) helped bring about this election cycle.
ON OUR SOCIALS: We’ve got this new word: hope scrolling, and we’ve been doing a whole lot of it this week. We’re celebrating big wins in Georgia, Virginia, and New Jersey, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s incredible legacy.
NOVEMBER 11: Veterans’ Day.
NOVEMBER 27: Thanksgiving.
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