Democrats Must Consider Energy Costs In Pursuit of Environmental Justice  

By Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

The “Drill baby drill” rhetoric of the Trump Administration likely leaves Democrats feeling discouraged to pursue their energy goals. As an original founder of the Climate Mayors and the former Mayor of Philadelphia, I understand their concerns. 

However, I want to remind them that energy policy should not be red or blue – or black and white. Climate, reliability, and affordability are all connected across political party lines and geographies. All-or-nothing approaches to energy policy can isolate the very groups some Democrats are eager to help. During the transition to a lower-carbon future, we can’t leave historically marginalized communities behind. 

A new report by the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), a center-left think tank in Washington, DC, confirms that impractical, bumper-sticker energy policies to end natural gas pushed by groups like the Sierra Club will actually have a very serious negative impact on the most vulnerable communities already struggling to get by. The reality is most of these energy-burdened communities directly overlay with high percentages of Black residents who have faced higher, less predictable energy prices in the name of clean energy.

There are plenty of working families and seniors across the country who believe in a clean energy transition but simply can’t afford for the transition to happen right away. There must be room for compromise. 

I support an increase in carbon-free renewables like solar, wind, and battery storage. But it will also take time and technological advancement, as well as secure supply chains, to scale it responsibly and affordably. In the meantime, we shouldn’t forget that natural gas – sourced here in the United States, creating jobs for American families – has accounted for over 60% of America’s carbon emission reductions since 2005. 

In a recent column, the Sierra Club’s Ben Jealous directly targeted me and a colleague for stating what two-thirds of Americans already agree with: they support natural gas and renewables working together.

Sierra Club actually used to promote these same policies not too long ago. The fact is there are still over 200 coal plants in the U.S., and coal usage is skyrocketing internationally. Replacing coal with natural gas is the easiest, fastest, and most affordable part of the energy transition.

The issue with ending natural gas use is that alternatives are often out of reach for low-income residents. 25% of American households are already energy-burdened with a disproportionate share across low income (67%) and Black (36%) households. Home solar arrays average more than the median household wealth for Black homeowners or renters with a $30,000 price tag for installation. Other challenges exist, like qualifying for the financing to pay for it, the quality of the roof, or who even owns the roof.

These may not be issues that Sierra Club’s leadership have to worry about, like Ben Jealous who clears a serious six figure salary annually, or their billionaire funders, or the 22 other staffers making $200,000 or more in compensation from Sierra Club’s $167 million annual budget.

But PPI’s report describes how efforts like the Sierra Club’s to force cities to constrain their supply of natural gas, even as energy demand increases, cause the most disadvantaged citizens to shoulder the cost of higher prices. Energy insecurity negatively impacts a household’s physical health and increases their likelihood to seek medical attention.

Meanwhile, after leaders spent years listening to the Sierra Club and others about stopping natural gas projects for the promise of new renewable-only projects that were delayed or never built, power bills are rising nationwide. The results of this all-or-nothing approach has been a shrinking power supply, growing electricity demands, and looming increased power bills for everyone. 

For example, PJM, a 13-state power grid, saw wholesale pricing rise 900% last summer, which is now flowing downstream to our utility bills. Baltimore families are reporting $200 higher bills than the month before.

We need to quickly build more power infrastructure. As we see the important but delayed build-out of new zero-carbon sources like offshore wind, natural gas-powered electricity remains the obvious choice, especially as it’s already the largest source of America’s electricity. As we scale renewables in the years ahead, it can remain as the flexible source to fill gaps when the sun isn’t shining, and wind isn’t blowing.

Some Democratic leaders like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro have recognized the value that an all-of-the-above energy approach can have for jobs, affordability, and reliability. Our Party must come together and work across-the-aisle to reach practical solutions that protect underserved communities from rising energy costs. Natural gas is an essential resource on the path to a clean energy future. 

Michael Nutter served as the 98th Mayor of Philadelphia from 2008 to 2016. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future Leadership Council.