Where the Candidates Stand: Mike Beltran on Climate & Energy

Mike Beltran, the Republican running for Florida's Congressional District 14, has a legislative record on energy worth knowing if you live in that district. As a state representative, he voted for a 2022 bill that solar industry groups said would hurt Florida's rooftop solar business and cost jobs. He also backed a 2024 bill that removed the term "climate change" from state law, let the state's Public Service Commission approve utility electric vehicle charging programs, and dropped a requirement that state agencies consider fuel efficiency when buying vehicles.

That same 2024 bill included provisions favoring methane gas: it reduced regulatory oversight of gas pipelines up to 100 miles long and blocked homeowners associations and community development districts from banning gas utility hookups. If you live somewhere with an HOA, this is the kind of rule that could affect whether you'd have a say in switching your home off gas in the future.

On his campaign website, Beltran says he wants to cut government spending to lower costs for constituents, and that he would oppose data centers being built in the district without local approval and guarantees they won't raise energy bills or harm the environment. His positions on energy justice issues, like access to efficiency programs for lower-income households, are not documented publicly. Florida's general election is November 3, with voter registration closing October 5 and early voting running October 24-31, with some counties starting earlier.