Lawmakers in New Mexico rejected legislation that would have locked aggressive climate targets into state law, highlighting growing concern that rigid mandates could push electricity prices higher before technology and infrastructure are ready. Reporting from E&E News shows the proposal stalled as policymakers questioned whether government timelines were moving faster than markets can realistically support. The debate signals a broader national shift as states weigh affordability alongside environmental goals.

The outcome carries clear implications for Ohio, where regulators and lawmakers face similar decisions about how energy policy shapes manufacturing competitiveness, grid investment and customer bills. As transmission spending accelerates and planning decisions rely more heavily on future demand projections, manufacturers are urging policymakers to prioritize affordability and reliability before adopting mandates that risk locking in higher costs.

Across the country, policymakers are confronting a growing reality: when energy policy timelines outpace technology and infrastructure, customers are often left paying for decisions long before solutions are ready. 2/18/2026