Clean energy team prevails in SRP board election
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Clean energy advocates won a majority of the seats in Tuesday's election for the Salt River Project power board, prevailing over the side heavily backed by the conservative organization Turning Point.
Why it matters: SRP provides energy for about 1.1 million Phoenix-area customers, and the district board sets the utility's electricity rate and power generation policy.
Driving the news: In a race that pitted a liberal, pro-renewable energy slate against a more traditional, conservative-backed team, the clean energy side won five of seven seats, per SRP's final unofficial results released Wednesday evening.
- That gives the pro-renewable side an 8-6 majority on the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, candidates from both sides told Axios.
- The business-backed, or "traditional" side, as incoming Vice President Barry Paceley described it, won the races for president and vice president, but the VP doesn't vote unless they're filling in for the president, according to SRP.
The intrigue: Both sides had support from outside groups.
- The conservative-backed slate was supported by Turning Point Action, the political arm of Turning Point USA, the right-wing group co-founded by slain activist Charlie Kirk, and by the pro-business Arizonans for Responsible Growth.
- The clean energy slate had support from actress Jane Fonda's climate PAC, the Democratic women's organization Arizona List and the organized labor group Worker Power, according to board member Sandra Kennedy, the clean energy slate's candidate for president.
By the numbers: Turnout more than quadrupled over 2024 — about 36,000 ballots were cast this year compared to around 7,500 two years ago, SRP told Axios.
Of note: SRP has two governing bodies with elected boards, and the business-backed side still holds the majority on the association board that oversees water delivery.
- Only landowners are eligible to vote in SRP elections, with acreage-based voting deciding most seats.
What they're saying: Kennedy, a former Democratic member of the Corporation Commission, told Axios she was "elated" about her slate's win, though she lost the race for the board's presidency. She will maintain her board seat.
- "I don't think it's going to be business as usual," she said when asked what to expect of the new majority.
The other side: "They did a very good job on campaigning," Paceley said of the clean energy team. "Our folks worked very hard ... But it wasn't enough."
- Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer touted his slate's wins for president and vice president and said the "radicals" only won in "deep blue areas," telling Axios they "don't have total control of SRP."