Climate Charter on Ballot in El Paso would lead to government takeover of utility, increase taxes

A plan by non-El Paso environmental activists want El Paso city officials to use taxpayer resources to de-privatize the area’s electric company is stirring up controversy in the west Texas town.

Out of town activists want to make El Paso Electric a municipally-owned utility as part of a climate charter it hopes that voters will approve in May as Proposition K.

The Climate Charter for the City of El Paso would implement a laundry list of objectives, including establishing a climate department, appointing a climate director and issuing annual reports on emissions and an environmental impact statement. The charter also calls for an annual Solar Power Generation Plan that would include analysis on how the city can develop internal capacity to generate energy through solar power, with a goal of 100 percent clean renewable energy by 2045.

The charter also calls for employing “all available efforts to convert El Paso Electric to municipal ownership.” Advocates call the climate charter a “first-of-its-kind initiative,” but critics decry the plan as a gross overreach of government. 

Business groups are firmly against the plan. The El Paso Chamber said its recent study shows that the charter will likely cost El Paso taxpayers billions of dollars in lost revenue, and thousands of people could lose their jobs, the El Paso Times reported.

“The El Paso Chamber believes wholeheartedly action must be taken to move toward a sustainable future. However, we cannot, in good conscience, support an amendment that has the potential to put thousands of El Pasoans at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods,” a recent new release stated.

El Paso Electric has supplied services to local residents for more than 120 years. It began as a company providing transportation via mule-drawn streetcars in 1901, becoming an electricity distributor in 1925. The company has grown today to a regional energy provider with a 10,000-square-mile footprint from west Texas to southern New Mexico with 460,000 customers.

The company has developed initiatives for responsible environmental practices, including striving to reduce its carbon footprint. Efforts include pursuing renewable energy opportunities, including launching its community solar program, with a goal of going 100 percent coal free. 

“As we enter into this era of clean energy production, we’re committed to continue working to further reduce our carbon footprint through technological innovation and expanding our efforts to understand and protect the delicate balance of nature in our region,” the company says on its website. The community solar program allows electric customers to purchase supplemental solar power from El Paso Electric without the need to install rooftop solar panels.

The El Paso Chamber also points out that voters already approved Proposition C in November, which allocated $5 million for the creation of a city Climate Action Plan. The chamber argues that with this initial study not expected to be completed for 12 to 18 months, it’s irresponsible of city leaders to rush Proposition K onto the ballot.

In almost every instance, private business runs better than a government-controlled venture. Voters should reject an attempt for out of state environmental interests to seize control of the local utility.

Johnny Kampis is director of telecom policy for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.