Climate activists are now focused on targetting utilities in their fight to slow global warming, with campaigns to replace investor-owned electric utilities with publicly owned ones. This “public power” movement aims to address high rates and frequent outages while pushing for a quicker transition to renewable energy sources and greater accountability to customers.
Despite a setback in Maine, advocates in California, New York, and Michigan are continuing their efforts. In San Diego, a signature-gathering campaign is underway to get a vote for a new, locally owned electricity distribution utility on the November ballot. Advocates argue that a new municipal utility would lower electricity rates and prioritize local energy generation without expensive investments in transmission lines.
In Rochester, New York, funding for a feasibility study has stalled, despite efforts by advocates to demonstrate the need for a public power company. Advocates hope to secure additional funding for the study, despite legislative concerns over costs and formation time.
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, a recent study produced mixed results on the likelihood of lower rates under a municipal utility, but public power advocates strongly disagree and believe a city council vote could launch a municipal utility within their timeframe to reach decarbonization goals.
The push for publicly owned utilities faces strong opposition from legacy power utilities, but advocates remain optimistic about the long-term prospects and benefits of public power.
