It’s not that WE have *zero* say in energy, it just doesn’t feel like it, because the system isn’t really built for everyday involvement AND who cares what "we the people" think!?
Most of the big decisions get filtered through layers of government and regulators. You vote for leaders, and they appoint or influence agencies that handle the details. So your voice is there… it’s just MANY steps removed from what actually gets built or how much you pay.
Then there’s the complexity. Energy isn’t like choosing a new park or school policy, it’s grids, supply chains, financing, and projects that take decades. That naturally shifts power toward experts, utilities, and big institutions, because they’re the ones who understand (and fund) the whole thing. So the "people" who don't have the influence (or money) to be in those rooms are shut out!
Money plays a HUGE role! It's understood that building energy infrastructure is expensive, so companies and utilities end up with most of the influence. If you’re the one putting billions on the line, you’re going to have a louder voice in how things are done. (The people... lose out again)
So yeah, we technically have a say. It’s just indirect, diluted, and kind of buried under layers of process. Which is why it often feels like energy decisions are happening *around* us, not *with* us.