Rogers Makes Energy Claims Against Opponent El-Sayed

The Republican Senate candidate alleges his opponent's past policies would increase utility bills and gasoline costs.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Utilities

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a single large electrical transmission tower against a solid background, representing Michigan energy policy debates. — Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has alleged that opponent Abdul El-Sayed’s energy policy could significantly increase Michigan utility and gasoline costs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you worry that clean energy mandates will significantly increase your household's monthly utility costs?

Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers is claiming that his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, supports energy policies that would raise annual household utility bills by $2,000 and gasoline prices by 20 cents per gallon. These claims were delivered by the Rogers campaign during a rally in Port Huron and via television advertisements.

Why it matters

The accuracy of these cost projections is central to the debate over the future of clean energy implementation in Michigan. Voters are weighing how competing energy platforms might impact the cost of living and the state's transition toward renewable sources ahead of the November 3, 2026, election.

The Rogers campaign cites a $2,000 annual utility bill increase and a 20 cent per gallon gasoline price hike as consequences of clean energy mandates. Current state laws aim for 60% of electricity to come from wind and solar by 2035.

The players

Mike Rogers

He is the Republican candidate currently running for the US Senate in Michigan.

Abdul El-Sayed

He is a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan who previously campaigned for governor in 2018.

The details

Bridge Michigan reports that the $2,000 figure is based on a Mackinac Center for Public Policy analysis of state energy laws, rather than a specific proposal by El-Sayed. Furthermore, the 20-cent gasoline estimate is derived from a 2013 National Association of Manufacturers study, though El-Sayed has not included a carbon tax in his 2026 platform.

2013: A National Association of Manufacturers study on carbon taxes was published.
2018: Abdul El-Sayed proposed a corporate polluter fee during his gubernatorial campaign.
June 2026: Abdul El-Sayed advocated for 100% renewable energy adoption.
October 2026: Mike Rogers made cost claims at a campaign rally and in television commercials.
November 3, 2026: Michigan voters head to the polls for the US Senate election.

Market Landscape

This dispute over energy costs occurs against the backdrop of Michigan's clean energy law requirement, which mandates that 60% of electricity must come from wind and solar by 2035. Candidates are actively debating whether these requirements will lead to higher consumer prices or if utility-scale renewable projects will effectively lower costs.

Voters are evaluating these conflicting projections to determine if the state's clean energy transition will result in higher monthly utility and transportation costs for their households. Understanding the source of these figures is critical for residents determining how different candidates plan to manage future energy prices.

The takeaway

Disagreements over energy policy often rely on long-term projections that may change as technology and markets evolve. Voters should look closely at whether specific cost claims originate from a candidate's actual platform or broader, non-partisan economic modeling.