Clean energy super PAC looks to take down a Democratic governor

A political group focused on clean energy is spending $500,000 on ads against Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee ahead of the state's Sept. 9 Democratic primary. The group, Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, has previously backed winning campaigns against three Republicans who opposed clean energy policies, but McKee is its first Democratic target. The ads, run through the state PAC Invest in America's Future, focus on McKee's handling of a bridge closure and his ties to donors rather than energy policy directly.

The move comes after McKee proposed budget changes this spring that would have pushed back Rhode Island's goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by nearly two decades and cut energy-efficiency funding by more than a fifth. State lawmakers blocked those changes in June, but McKee later vetoed a bill that would have required owners of large buildings to track and report their energy use. He has repeatedly argued that clean energy policies are driving up utility bills.

For homeowners, this doesn't change any rebate or program rules right now, but it signals a broader fight over how much states invest in efficiency programs and renewable energy goals. Rhode Island isn't alone: other states, including New York, have also pulled back on climate commitments amid concerns about affordability. If you rely on state-level efficiency or rebate programs, it's worth keeping an eye on how these political battles play out, since funding and program rules can shift depending on who holds office.