Californians Want Choices, Not Costly Mandates, to Power Their Future

Latinos are at the heart of California’s economy, culture, and future. From small businesses to working families, our community powers the state forward every single day. We value innovation, sustainability, and opportunity. We also support clean energy — but we believe climate goals should not come at the expense of affordability, cultural traditions, or personal freedom.

Unfortunately, that balance is slipping away. Instead of empowering Californians with affordable  options, state leaders continue to impose mandates that make life more expensive: from higher gas prices and rising utility bills, to costly replacements of gas-powered vehicles, tools, and appliances. These mandates ignore a basic truth: every household, every business, and every community knows what works best for them.

The Burden of Mandates

Research from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows that while Californians — including Latinos — support clean energy and climate goals, support drops when policies drive up costs. Rising energy bills and record-high gas prices are serious burdens for families already struggling with California’s high cost of living.

For working families making under $100,000 a year, proposals like banning gas-powered cars by 2035 aren’t just impractical — they’re unrealistic. The same is true for small businesses that can’t afford to replace equipment overnight. On paper, state energy mandates may sound ambitious, but in reality, they take away freedom, limit opportunity, and hit hardest those with the fewest resources.

Why Choice Matters

At the center of these challenges is a simple principle: choice. Latinos deeply value the freedom to make decisions that reflect our needs, our culture, and our way of life.

California’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and energy policies should reflect that diversity by giving communities options that meet their needs. From how we travel to how we power our homes and businesses, policies should expand options and not restrict them with costly one-size-fits-all mandates.

Families know how to manage their budgets. Small businesses understand what it takes to keep their doors open. And cultural traditions — from family gatherings to community festivals — cannot and should not be dictated by policy.

A Smarter Path Forward

California’s Latino community is ready to be part of a cleaner, more sustainable future. But that future must work for everyone — from farmworkers in the Central Valley, to small business owners in Los Angeles, to working families in San Diego.

If your family is struggling with higher bills or if your business feels squeezed by costly regulations, it’s time to raise your voice. Our future should not be shaped by restrictive mandates from Sacramento, but by the choices — and voices — of the people who call California home.

Join Us. Together let’s demand policies that respect our culture, protect our freedom, and strengthen our future. Let’s build an energy future that works for all Californians. Because, when families and businesses are trusted to make the right decisions for themselves, everyone wins.