Research | Policy Briefs

Questions for Candidates: Clean Energy

Overview

Many chambers and other business organizations host candidate forums or ask candidates to answer questionnaires during election season. Energy and sustainability are important issues at all levels of business and government—these issues influence the economy, jobs, and community resilience. With that in mind, here are some questions related to clean energy to consider including in your next candidate forum or questionnaire.

Cost and Reliability

  • The cost and reliability of energy are key factors in the economic competitiveness of a community or state. Studies show that clean sources of energy such as wind and solar are now cost-competitive with or cheaper than fossil fuels and, when paired with storage (batteries, etc.), also increase the reliability of the grid. Should our utility providers be encouraged to invest more in clean sources of energy?

    • Alternative: The cost and reliability of energy are key factors in the economic competitiveness of a community or state. What role should clean sources of energy such as solar and wind have in energy cost competitiveness and reliability?

  • Companies and families are increasingly interested in purchasing their energy from clean sources like solar and wind. What steps, if any, would you take to increase the accessibility of these sources of energy in our community/state?

  • Many people support an “all of the above" approach to energy production, but, when paired with storage, wind and solar are the most economical and among the most reliable new sources of new electricity generation. What should we do to diversify our energy resource mix in order to improve cost and grid reliability?



Economic and Workforce Development

  • The clean energy sector is growing at a much faster rate than the overall economy, creating new high-tech and manufacturing jobs all over the country. Should attracting clean energy companies and jobs to our area/state be an important part of our economic development strategy?

  • The clean energy sector is growing at a much faster rate than the overall economy, creating new high-tech and manufacturing jobs all over the country. What steps should we take to prepare our workforce for these high-skill, high-paying jobs?

  • Wind and solar installations bring new tax revenue and clean, locally generated sources of energy to a community. Do you support wind and solar installations in our community?



EVs and EV Infrastructure

  • Lack of charging infrastructure is one of the biggest hurdles to electric vehicle adoption. If elected, what would you do to help improve our charging infrastructure?



Security & Energy Independence

  • Investments in clean energy offer the ability to further our energy independence goals and insulate our economy from global energy price manipulations. Do you support continued investments in clean energy sources to achieve these goals?

  • National security and energy independence are top of mind for many voters and policymakers. Given that wind and solar generation increase domestic energy production and help insulate the US from global oil and gas price fluctuations, should wind and solar be a higher priority locally and nationally? 



ESG

  • Some financial institutions and investment funds include ESG (environment, social, governance) criteria in their investment decisions. Some states have prohibited their agencies and local governments from doing business with these institutions, even in cases when such a firm offers the best value. Should states use free market principles and consider value for taxpayer dollars when doing business with financial institutions?



Clean Energy Siting

  • At a time when demand for reliable, affordable energy is on the rise locally and nationally, we are seeing pushback for large-scale energy projects from local communities. These projects not only help meet our energy needs but also bring significant economic and workforce benefits to the state/community. What is the right balance, in your opinion, on state and local permitting and zoning of energy projects?

  • Most large-scale wind and solar projects are developed on private property in partnership with private developers rather than utility companies, and they often provide a much-needed stable source of income for farmers and owners of undeveloped land. Private property rights are a cornerstone value in the United States. Shouldn’t the property owner’s rights be given strong consideration in the permitting process?

Learn more about key clean energy issues here.

Questions? Contact Rob Bradham, Director of Policy