Outside Money. Our Utilities.
Why is a California super PAC interested in Tallahassee’s mayoral race?
Tallahassee Reports documented a combined $175,000 from Green Advocacy Project and its founder to Matlow’s One Tallahassee political committee in 2024. The organization also contributed $200,000 to the national Lead Locally PAC. Lead Locally now backs Matlow.
The goal: Rapid transition of Tallahassee’s publicly owned electric utility.
Gainesville is a warning. A costly biomass energy contract led to a $750 million buyout financed over 30 years through utility revenue bonds. Customers faced higher bills, and a 2023 law shifted oversight from the City Commission to a governor-appointed board.
Matlow must answer
Matlow must be held accountable.
- What would this transition cost?
- Will service remain reliable?
- Who gets the multimillion-dollar contracts?
- Has Matlow discussed utility contracts with these super PACs or their millionaire funders?
- Has he made any commitments?
Read the full file & sources
The 2024 money
According to Tallahassee Reports, Green Advocacy Project gave $150,000 to One Tallahassee, the political committee Matlow created, in 2024. Its founder, Michael Kieschnick, personally gave another $25,000. Together, that is $175,000 connected to the same national climate advocacy network. [2]
The 2026 connection
Tallahassee Reports traced $200,000 from Green Advocacy Project to Lead Locally PAC: $100,000 in April 2024, $50,000 in June 2025, and $50,000 in May 2026. Lead Locally endorses Matlow for mayor. The report leaves Tallahassee-specific 2026 PAC spending undetermined. [2] [5]
What they want
Green Advocacy Project’s published strategy calls for faster adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and for stopping expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure. Lead Locally’s Matlow endorsement specifically highlights Tallahassee’s publicly owned utility and advocates adding solar instead of natural gas. Their stated policy goals put our utility at the center of their interest in this election. [4] [5]
Pennsylvania’s example
The PA Alliance for Energy article republishes reporting by Delaware Valley Journal from May 2020. It describes nearly $200,000 from GAP supporting Pennsylvania election efforts, including $30,000 for phone calls and texts through Conservation Voters of PA and $48,000 to Food & Water Watch. The article characterizes the funding as dark money because GAP’s underlying donors were not disclosed. It offers an earlier example of the group using election funding to pursue energy-policy goals. [1]
Who is behind GAP
InfluenceWatch’s profile describes founder Michael Kieschnick and the group’s giving to political and environmental organizations, including the Working Families Party and the League of Conservation Voters’ political arm. GAP’s own strategy page identifies the organization as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit and says it supports electoral efforts in some circumstances. [6] [4]
Gainesville’s costs
Gainesville entered a 30-year biomass power contract and purchased the plant in 2017 to exit that agreement. GRU’s official bond statement confirms a $750 million contract purchase price. WUFT reports a financing cost of about $1.2 billion over 30 years including interest. The buyout reduced costs compared with the original contract, but debt payments contributed to higher customer bills. WUFT also cites a 2018 report that ranked the original contract among the country’s worst. This is a cautionary example of the long-term exposure created by a utility contract. [8] [9]
Local control
A 2023 Florida law transferred GRU oversight from Gainesville’s City Commission to a governor-appointed authority amid debt and budget pressures. Tallahassee residents deserve answers before major utility decisions are made. [9]
Source material
- 01PA Alliance for EnergyGAP funding and donor transparency in Pennsylvania electionsMay 29, 2020(opens in a new tab)
- 02Tallahassee ReportsGAP, One Tallahassee, and Lead Locally’s funding connectionsSeptember 16, 2026 · Updated September 19, 2026(opens in a new tab)
- 03Tallahassee DemocratCalifornia PAC involvement in Tallahassee’s 2026 racesSeptember 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)
- 04Green Advocacy ProjectThe organization’s stated energy and electoral strategy(opens in a new tab)
- 05Lead LocallyMatlow’s endorsement and the public utility’s role(opens in a new tab)
- 06InfluenceWatchGAP leadership and political funding background(opens in a new tab)
- 07The Gainesville Sun2018 reporting on the GREC contractOctober 24, 2018(opens in a new tab)
- 08Gainesville Regional Utilities2017 bond statement and the biomass acquisition price2017(opens in a new tab)
- 09WUFTBiomass debt, utility bills, and the change in oversightJuly 31, 2023(opens in a new tab)
