Candidate Elaine Davis on Climate & Energy

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Elaine Davis, the Republican Party candidate running for reelection to represent Tennessee House District 18 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Also in this series, we profile Democratic candidate Bryan Goldberg.

Carynton Howard | October 7, 2024 | Elections, Energy Policy, Tennessee

This post is part of a series of blogs examining where 2024 Southeastern candidates for state and federal offices stand on key energy and climate issues.

Note: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Links to reports, candidate websites and outside sources are provided as citizen education tools. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund invited both candidates in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 18 to fill out a candidate questionnaire. SACE Action Fund only received a response from the Democratic Party candidate, Bryan Goldberg, and did not receive a response from Republican candidate, Elaine Davis. 

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Elaine Davis, the Republican Party candidate running for reelection to represent Tennessee House District 18 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Also in this series, we profile Democratic candidate Bryan Goldberg.

Election Day is November 5, 2024.

Elaine Davis was elected to represent House District 18 in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2022. House District 18 covers part of Southern Knox County. 

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Representative Davis voted in favor of House Bill 2108 which if enacted, would have undermined local governments’ clean energy goals by requiring them to count polluting methane gas as a “clean” energy source. 

Representative Davis co-sponsored House Bill 483, which has since become law. The law prevents local governments from prohibiting certain utility connections, or the sale or installation of home appliances used for cooking, space heating, or water heating based on the source of energy these appliances use. In practice, the law prevents local governments from requiring new buildings to have only energy-efficient electric appliances.

Elaine Davis voted for House Bill 799, which preempts local governments from adopting a residential building energy code that is more stringent than the code approved by the state legislature. Previously, local governments were free to adopt stricter standards and routinely did, the effect of which is reduced energy use and lower energy bills. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jason Zachary, stated in a committee hearing, “We’re setting a maximum standard.”

Climate Change

We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on this issue in published media, public records, or the campaign website.

Voting Information 

Election Day is November 5. Here are important dates and deadlines to consider, from the Tennessee Secretary of State:

  • Aug. 7, 2024: First day to make an absentee ballot request
  • Oct. 7, 2024: Voter registration deadline 
  • Oct. 16, 2024: In-person early voting begins
  • Oct. 29, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline
  • Oct. 31, 2024: In-person early voting ends 
  • Nov. 5, 2024: General Election Day 
  • Nov. 5, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline 

For more information about being a Tennessee voter, including registering, finding your polling place, and requesting an absentee ballot, visit proudvoter.org.

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Featured image credit Wade Allen on Unsplash.

Carynton Howard
Carynton joined the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in 2024. As Climate Advocacy Coordinator, she identifies and advocates for climate and clean energy policy changes in the Southeast. Her focus…
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