Just about everyone on this site has probably been suffering from campaign fatigue, but an important election was held yesterday. Progressive challenger Davante Lewis, just 30 years old, defeated an energy-industry-friendly incumbent to win a seat on the board of the powerful Lousiana Public Service Commission. The Commission regulates utility companies and helps set energy policies and electric rates for the state. Davante drew 59% of the vote compared to incumbent Lambert Boissierie III Saturday, www.nola.com/…
From Davante’s website, here are the main policies he ran on, www.davanteforla.com:
* I will work to enforce a Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights to end service disconnections, provide a fixed billing system for senior citizens, ban excessive late fees and strengthen the cap on the maximum profit that investor-owned utility companies can extract from their customers.
* I will push for utilities to speed up adoption of clean, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind and promote adoption of rooftop solar and home batteries across the state. These technologies will reduce pollution, improve public health, and cut costs for ratepayers.
* As a candidate, I refuse to accept donations from industries regulated by the PSC, and as a Commissioner, I will fight for new ethics rules to break the grip of corporate donors and push the Commission to begin serving the people of Louisiana instead.
* As a Public Service Commissioner, I will ensure that the PSC takes a leading role in meeting the Louisiana Climate Action Plan's goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2035.
Davante lives in Baton Rouge and worked for the left-leaning, Lousiana Budget Project. He received financial support from environmental and other grassroots groups. The Public Service Commission is composed of five board members. Boissiere was seen as being put on the defensive as ratepayers became angry with skyrocketing utility bills. I don’t know if there are any other votes for progressive energy policies amongst the four other board commissioners, but even if there aren’t this election is a step in the right direction.