Renewable Energy Advocates Gain Ground in Arizona Power Utility Election

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Renewable energy advocates in Arizona made gains against a business-backed slate in a fight over how the nation's largest public power utility, the Salt River Project, will meet fast-rising electricity demand in a data center hot spot. While the clean energy advocates picked up two seats on the 14-member utility board, giving them an 8-to-6 majority, incumbents backed by construction firms and data center developers held on to the offices of president and vice president, keeping their agenda-setting power.

Why it matters

The election results reflect growing public interest in utility decisions amid rising household electricity prices and pushback against massive data centers in Arizona and elsewhere. The outcome will shape how the Salt River Project, which projects needing to double its power capacity within a decade, reduces its reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas that emit greenhouse gases.

The details

The election saw a surge of interest from voters and drew the attention of Turning Point Action, which attacked the renewable energy advocates as 'radical environmentalists.' The clean energy team said the current majority is too eager to hook up to natural gas, raise rates and embrace data centers, while backers of the incumbents warn of a risk of tight energy supplies and blackouts without relying on natural gas-fueled power plants.

• The election wrapped up on Tuesday, April 9, 2026.
• The Salt River Project utility projects it needs to double its power capacity within the next decade.

What’s next

The newly formed 8-to-6 majority of renewable energy advocates on the Salt River Project board will now have to negotiate with the incumbents backed by construction firms and data center developers to determine the utility's future energy mix and rate policies.