Leading businesses call on states to tackle energy affordability with clean solutions

More than two dozen major companies and business advocacy organizations today called on states to enact bipartisan policies to address energy affordability.   

In an open letter to state policymakers, 25 businesses expressed support for commonsense policies to optimize the power grid, accelerate interconnection of clean energy resources, and expand energy efficiency and demand flexibility programs. 

The letter was signed by AO Smith, CommonSpirit, dsm-firmenich, Grove Collaborative, Heirloom, Johnson Controls, the National Ski Areas Association, the Ohio Business Energy Partnership, Patagonia, REI, Sealed, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, among others. 

“Clean energy is cheaper energy. We’ve already seen renewables, batteries, and distributed energy resources save people money during this summer’s heat wave,” said Kelly Trombley, state policy director at Ceres. “Now, states need to modernize the power grid and expand energy efficiency programs that keep energy affordable for everyone in the long term. Strong business support is a powerful signal that it’s time for policymakers to come together on these commonsense solutions.” 

Ceres today also released an energy affordability playbook for policymakers — Powering Affordability: A Business-Backed Playbook For a Modern Clean Energy System — that lays out policy solutions for a more resilient, efficiency, and flexible energy system in more detail and highlights success stories from the past year in the states.  

Rising energy prices and reliability concerns are top issues for businesses and everyday consumers around the country, and they will be top of mind for candidates and voters during the 2026 midterm elections. As state legislatures consider solutions to keep energy costs in check, Ceres and its network of companies will keep advocating for policies that lower costs while positioning states to grow their economies and attract private-sector investment.  

What Businesses are Saying:  

“The energy sector is at a critical juncture. Businesses and consumers will shoulder the burden of higher energy prices if policymakers don’t act. We need commonsense policy from states to modernize the power grid and continue deploying cheap clean energy,” said Hugh Welsh, president and general Counsel at dsm-firmenich North America. 

“We want to make everyday consumer products more sustainable, but we can’t do it without affordable energy and a modern power grid,” said Kaley Cross, sustainability manager at Grove Collaborative. It’s time for policymakers to get moving on bipartisan reforms to our energy systems that will keep power clean and prices low.”  

"The next generation of American innovation depends on bringing our power infrastructure out of the 1960s and into the 21st century,” said Vikrum Aiyer, head of policy and external Affairs at Heirloom. “We need policymakers to unite behind the vision of a secure, reliable and sustainable grid that is purpose-built to protect ratepayers and re-industrialize America.” 

"Energy affordability is top of mind for ski areas. The industry is working hard to electrify operations and deploy more clean energy to do our part to address the risks of climate change, but rising electricity costs and constraints on the grid are making those investments harder to afford and scale," said Michael Reitzell, president & CEO of the National Ski Areas Association. "Policymakers have a huge opportunity to enact policies to modernize the power grid, bring more low-cost clean energy online faster, and make our energy systems more efficient so businesses can continue cutting emissions while keeping energy reliable and affordable." 

“Businesses have an opportunity to help lead the way in the clean energy transition,” said Patagonia’s senior strategist for impact Alison Huyett. “By supporting renewable energy infrastructure development, investing in on-site clean energy production and backing legislation that keep clean energy costs low, companies can use their resources to benefit people and planet alike.”   

“We strive to make our products with sustainability in mind, and clean energy is critical to that goal. In our industry, aging power infrastructure and higher energy prices can significantly impact our ability to remain competitive,” said Mandi McKay, chief sustainability and social impact officer at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “We're asking policymakers to help modernize the system with clean, affordable power and keep energy affordable for everyone.”  

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About Ceres  

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient economy. With data-driven research and expert analysis, we inspire investors and companies to act on the world's sustainability challenges and advocate for market and policy solutions. Together, our efforts transform industries, unlock new business opportunities, and foster innovation and job growth – proving that sustainability is the bottom line. For more information, visit ceres.org.