Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy is calling for an independent review of all green energy programs and climate-related spending in Massachusetts.

The plea comes as Massachusetts currently ranks as having the third-highest energy costs in the country, and as utility companies warn that bills are set to increase over the winter months.

“Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states in America when it comes to utility bills. This is not accidental,” Kennealy said in a press release. “It’s the result of an overly-partisan governing approach that puts political ideology ahead of the people of Massachusetts.”

Kennealy blames Gov. Maura Healey’s energy policies for the dramatic rise in energy prices, citing the then-candidate’s own words during her 2022 gubernatorial campaign, when she bragged about “stopping two gas pipelines from coming into this state.”

“Governor Healey blocked two major natural gas pipelines from entering our state, knowingly driving up energy costs,” Kennealy said. “Her administration is pushing full steam toward a 2050 net-zero emissions mandate, even if it means skyrocketing costs for families and small businesses.”

Kennealy said the review would include all tax credits, subsidies and grants for green energy companies, all regulatory mandates driving increased utility costs, the total cost of state climate programs to taxpayers and ratepayers, and a full accounting of how state climate policies impact affordability and reliability.

“We must identify which policies are driving energy costs through the roof and burdening our families and make cuts. If this administration won’t act, I will,” Kennealy said.

As Kennealy makes the call, legislation is already moving on Beacon Hill to roll back green energy spending — including the state’s 2050 net-zero emissions mandate.

House Democrats on the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee have assembled an omnibus bill that would establish an “affordability and competitiveness standard” for clean energy transition regulations in Massachusetts.

It would also redirect the focus of the Mass Save rebate program from greenhouse gas reduction to cost effectiveness and energy efficiency, would make cuts to the Mass Save program, and remove the ban on Mass Save rebates for efficient gas heating systems, among other measures.

The bill, sponsored by Braintree Democrat Mark Cusak, is being praised by small business owners while at the same time drawing backlash from climate activists and clean energy advocates. Cusak and his fellow co-sponsors blame actions taken by the federal government under the Trump administration, which they say have hampered the state’s climate goals.

“We represent 0.01% of global C02 emissions. There is no justification for forcing families to pay drastically higher electricity and heating bills in pursuit of a symbolic goal that does nothing to meaningfully change global climate outcomes,” said Kennealy. “The Healey Administration’s resistance to affordability is no surprise – Governor Healey has filled her administration with climate activists while ignoring consumers. It’s simply not fair to the people trying to raise their families here.”

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Healey filed her own legislation (H 4144) back in June that seeks to lower energy costs by rolling back state energy mandates, increasing DPU oversight of investor-owned utilities, and strengthening the state’s energy independence.

The governor says her bill would reduce energy costs by $10 billion over the next decade.