Clean Energy Candidates Win Most Arizona Utility Seats

Arizona voters just sent a powerful message about the future of their power by electing clean energy champions to lead one of the state's largest utilities.

The Salt River Project election results are in, and Clean Energy Team candidates won a majority of board seats despite facing enormous financial odds. SRP serves 1.1 million customers across metro Phoenix, making this election's outcome significant for the region's energy future.

The race drew unprecedented attention after Turning Point Action, the political arm of a Phoenix-based conservative activist group, poured massive resources into backing their own slate of candidates. Clean Energy Team supporters expected to be outspent by a 10-to-1 margin but didn't let that discourage them.

When votes were tallied Wednesday, Clean Energy candidates claimed victories in crucial races. They won both at-large district board seats, with Krista O'Brien and Kathy Mohr-Almeida each earning roughly twice as many votes as their Turning Point-backed opponents.

The Clean Energy Team also swept Division 6 and Division 8 council seats, winning all six available positions. They secured Board of Governors seats in Divisions 4, 6, and 8 as well.

Turning Point Action did score two notable wins at the top of the ticket. Their candidates Chris Dobson and Barry Paceley won the SRP president and vice president positions respectively.

The Ripple Effect

This election matters beyond Arizona's borders. As utilities nationwide grapple with balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability, SRP's direction could influence how other community-owned power providers approach their energy transitions.

SRP operates as a not-for-profit utility without investors, meaning the elected boards work directly with management to establish policies that affect more than a million customers. These newly elected officials will help shape decisions about renewable energy investments, grid modernization, and rate structures.

The voter turnout and engagement surprised many observers. Utility elections typically draw little attention, but this race became a referendum on energy priorities. Landowners within SRP's 10 voting divisions participated, with votes weighted by property size.

The Clean Energy Team's success despite the funding disadvantage demonstrates that voters responded to their message about sustainable power and responsible stewardship. Final results will be officially canvassed Monday, but the unofficial tallies show clear wins across most contested races.

Arizona's energy future just got a little brighter, powered by voters who chose to invest in cleaner solutions.