The inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has passed and been signed into law. President Biden and a number of Governors have promised to cut global warming pollution 50% by 2030, and to "net zero" by 2050. Lots of people are celebrating, but this fight is far from over.

The Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes all forms of US energy — the good, clean stuff like solar and wind; And the dirty, dangerous stuff like fossil gas, hydrogen, and the false-solution of carbon capture. Utility companies are just beginning to respond and release their plans for the next few years, but so far the results are concerning.

We wrote a long post in the blog with lots of footnotes and recent articles if you want to learn more. But if you're ready to take action, click here to tell your Governor to take action on utilities with the Inflation Reduction Act.

an image contrasting a polluted background with power lines and a clean foreground with solar panels separated by a gavel and town hall

While some utility companies are proposing to reduce emissions and build renewables, so far most are not proposing plans that will get anywhere near the goal of reducing global warming pollution 50% by 2030 or 100% by 2050. The plans we looked at in our blog suggest most utilities, in most states, will deliver much less clean power, much later than it will be needed to stop the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

These same utility corporations are shutting off the heat and lights to thousands of customers every year, and spending millions on stock buy backs, CEO bonuses, and political bribes. These utility corporations are nakedly corrupt, and are hurting our communities and our climate. You would think that somebody in law enforcement would investigate, demand answers, and even hold them accountable.

But the folks who regulate utilities, commonly called Public Utility Commissions or Public Service Commissions (PUC/PSC), are wholly captured by the utilities they’re supposed to regulate. Just like FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which we've been telling you about for years is a rubber stamp for the gas and utility companies at the federal level, so most state PUC's are a rubber stamp for local utility companies.

So we're fighting back, starting with our Governors - most PUC members are appointed by the Governor, just like FERC commissioners are appointed by the President.

Click here to send a letter to your Governor telling them that you want them to use the Inflation Reduction Act to build clean energy and cut global warming pollution, and that you wont tolerate any more rubber stamping utility plans that put profits over people and planet.

Thanks,

Drew and the 198 Nerdy tweets about utility law in a post Inflation Reduction Act world crew

PS - Seriously, go read that Chisholm legacy Project report if you want to get your head around the why and how of this action- it's great and has lots more info on your state PUC.

Too many footnotes to list them all, but here's the essentials. Go check out the blog for everything: