This piece is part of a series of articles examining where 2026 Southeastern candidates for state and federal offices stand on key energy and climate issues, like data centers and energy costs.
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.
In this article, we examine the policies and positions of Brent Taylor, the Republican candidate running to represent Tennessee’s Congressional District 9. Also in this series, we profile Democratic candidate Justin Pearson. Election Day is November 3.
Brent Taylor currently serves as the representative for District 31 in the Tennessee State Senate. His career in Tennessee politics spans 31 years. Taylor was elected to the Memphis City Council in 1995. He served as Chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission until his run for State Senate in 2022.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
As state senator, Brent Taylor voted for Senate Bill 884 in 2025 to classify fossil gas as a type of clean energy. The law effectively prevents municipalities and local power companies from achieving renewable energy goals by requiring them to count polluting methane gas as a “clean” energy source.
Brent Taylor co-sponsored Senate Bill 367 in 2023, 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 prohibiting gas appliances or requiring new buildings to have only energy-efficient electric appliances.
Climate Change
In 2023, Brent Taylor voted to prohibit Tennessee and all of its political subdivisions from adopting any policy recommendations from the United Nations’ Agenda 21, a voluntary action plan to increase global sustainable development, conservation, and end poverty created out of concern about climate change. The United States signed on to Agenda 21 in 1992, and in the years since, local governments across the nation have created their own sustainability goals. The bill was later signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Electric Transportation
We were unable to confirm Brent Taylor’s position on electric transportation in published media, public records, or on his campaign website.
Energy Justice
We were unable to confirm Brent Taylor’s position on energy justice in published media, public records, or on his campaign website.
Energy Affordability
Senator Taylor acknowledges energy affordability on his campaign website: “Tennessee families, farmers, and small business owners are tired of stretched paychecks and rising prices at the grocery store, the gas pump, and the utility bill.” He goes on to explain that he will tackle the affordability issue by supporting “President Trump’s agenda: cutting reckless federal spending, slashing burdensome regulations, and delivering real economic relief to the hardworking people of our district.”
High-Risk Energy: Nuclear, Coal, Methane Gas
On Brent Taylor’s campaign website, he states his commitment to expand domestic oil, natural gas, and nuclear power if elected.
Data Centers
In 2025, Brent Taylor passed a data center bill to ensure ratepayers do not cover the cost of energy infrastructure upgrades for facilities with a peak demand above 50 megawatts. In an interview with WKRN, he said: “Under no circumstances should ratepayers have to pay for the infrastructure improvements needed by these data centers and their insatiable appetite for energy.” The bill also allows data center owners to produce their own power or buy it from an independent producer without needing regulatory approval.
Voting Information
Election Day is November 3. Here are important dates and deadlines to consider:
- Oct. 5, 2026: Voter registration deadline
- Oct. 14, 2026: In-person early voting period begins
- Oct. 24, 2026: Absentee ballot request deadline
- Oct. 29, 2026: In-person early voting period ends
- Nov. 3, 2024: General Election Day
- Nov. 3, 2026: Absentee ballot return deadline
- Nov. 3, 2026: Absentee ballot return deadline for military and overseas citizen voters
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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