Power? Empowered? Power down. Woke utility giant alleged to have squandered billions on DEI, ESG
August 9, 2025|3 min read
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A federal investigation has been demanded as Xcel Energy is said to prioritize diversity schemes over public safety, according to the Christian Employers Alliance.
A major utility company stands accused of betraying ratepayers by funneling billions into politically motivated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) projects while critical infrastructure repairs languished and potentially contributed to deadly wildfires.
The Christian Employers Alliance (CEA), representing over 200 business owners and 88,000 employees nationwide, has called for federal scrutiny of Xcel Energy‘s operations after revelations the company allocated massive resources to ideological initiatives rather than essential safety upgrades.
According to CEA President Margaret Iuculano, Xcel transformed from an energy provider into a “political actor,” exploiting its monopoly position to advance woke priorities at ratepayers’ expense. The company reportedly tied 30% of executive compensation to ESG benchmarks while spending over $3 billion on new transmission infrastructure linked to renewable mandates.
Facing mounting scrutiny over deadly wildfires, Xcel Energy quietly removed diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments from its corporate documents and diversity-focused webpages earlier this year, according to an analysis by the Energy & Policy Institute.
The utility reduced executive performance metrics from “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” to merely “Inclusion” in April 2025 SEC filings and cut funding for a Minneapolis community solar project initially promoted as serving communities of color. The retreat signals corporate America’s recognition that woke virtue signaling carries serious liability when basic infrastructure fails.
Most damning, wildfire mitigation funds were allegedly diverted toward United Nations climate initiatives and racial equity programs instead of preventing catastrophic blazes like 2024’s Smokehouse Creek fire. Meanwhile, Xcel aggressively acquired private land from Colorado ranching families to facilitate its green energy transformation.
Xcel Energy acknowledged that its equipment “appeared to have been involved” in igniting the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which became the largest wildfire in Texas history, burning over 1 million acres and destroying hundreds of structures.
The company faces 15 lawsuits over the deadly blaze, with executives disputing negligence claims while establishing new wildfire mitigation policies and exploring federal legislation to limit utility liability.
“This is not just bad business—it’s a betrayal of public trust,” Iuculano declared. “Utilities should deliver power, not political agendas.”
The alliance has championed the FAIR Act (H.R. 4603), sponsored by Representative John McGuire, which would prohibit state regulators from approving rate increases for utilities pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The legislation aims to refocus energy companies on their core mission: providing safe, reliable, affordable power.
The case exemplifies how corporate America’s embrace of progressive ideology undermines basic infrastructure and public safety, resulting in a pattern that demands immediate congressional intervention.
