Arizona Clean Energy Team Wins Utility Board Majority

For the first time ever, champions of clean energy will control the board of Arizona's biggest utility, reshaping how millions get their power and water.

The Salt River Project just held elections for its board seats, and candidates running as the Clean Energy Team won big. They'll now hold an eight to six majority at the utility serving Phoenix and surrounding areas.

The race drew national attention and big names on both sides. The Sierra Club and climate activist Jane Fonda backed the clean energy slate. Local business leaders and conservative group Turning Point USA supported traditional energy candidates.

Two candidates from the business slate did win seats, showing the race wasn't a complete sweep. But the shift marks a historic turning point for renewable energy leadership in Arizona, a state known more for sunshine than solar policy.

"We can show that the utility can be successful and profitable and still support renewable energy," Randy Miller told Politico. Miller is a former board member who backed the winning slate and now serves on an advisory council.

The Ripple Effect

This victory could reshape energy policy across the Southwest. The Salt River Project serves water and electricity to millions of customers in the greater Phoenix area, making it one of the region's most powerful utilities.

Arizona has struggled with extreme heat in recent years, with Phoenix breaking temperature records. The state also has some of the best solar potential in the country, yet has lagged behind California and Nevada in renewable energy adoption.

The new board majority could accelerate solar and wind projects while maintaining grid reliability in a state where air conditioning literally saves lives. Their decisions will test whether a major utility can transition to cleaner energy while keeping prices affordable.

Miller's comment points to the bigger question this election answers. For years, utility leaders have framed renewable energy as either unreliable or unprofitable. Now a major Southwest utility will put that assumption to the test.

"It's no longer a question about whether it's possible," Miller added.

The clean energy champions will take their seats at a utility that's been operating since 1903, bringing fresh thinking to an institution older than Arizona statehood itself.