This week, San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer officially announced his bid for California governor, putting energy and climate policy at the top of the ballot at a time when the state’s officials are pivoting towards practical energy solutions.

In his announcement, Steyer leans on tired messaging, flaunting his previous attacks on oil companies and vowing to go after utilities. Notably, Steyer decided to discuss high energy prices, despite his anti-energy development stance:

“I’ve taken on out-of-state corporations that refuse to pay their California taxes. I’ve taken on the oil companies. I’ve taken on the tobacco companies…We have the second-highest electricity rates in the country. If we break up the monopolistic power of utilities, we’re going to unleash a complete wave of innovation and drop our sky high energy prices.”

While this language is typical from blue-state politicians, it stands in contrast with recent backtracking from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Read the full post at EIDClimate.org.