OPINION:
Republicans are fighting to harness every source of affordable, available, reliable American energy. Energy is more than fuel. It means freedom. It powers our economy, secures our future, and safeguards our nation. It is time to unleash that promise.
For years, reckless regulation stifled our energy potential. The prior administration’s policies drove household energy prices up by 31% in four years. Families and businesses were squeezed.
Regulations put coal offline, stalled oil and natural gas leases, and tethered us to foreign dictators. The shadow of dependency loomed. Meanwhile, China builds two coal power plants each week. Russia profits from Europe’s energy weakness. This cannot continue.
America is no ordinary nation. We are an energy superpower. It is time we acted like it.
America is blessed with boundless gifts. We have more clean-burning coal than any other nation. We have extensive oil and natural gas reserves. We have cutting-edge nuclear technology. When we use all our energy options, America wins.
President Donald Trump is off to a bold start. On Day One, his executive orders cleared the way for American energy dominance. Republicans in Congress are advancing legislation to boost energy production across the country.
Wyoming’s Powder River Basin is poised to power the nation with affordable, clean coal. Gulf of America leases will expand oil production. Texas and Pennsylvania natural gas projects are scaling up. These efforts deliver clear benefits.
First, more American energy helps keep prices affordable. Electricity demand is set to double by 2050. Locking up our resources only drives up prices, exactly what we saw under the previous administration. Expanding affordable, reliable energy production secures the grid and puts money back in Americans’ pockets.
Second, more American energy creates jobs. Coal mines in Wyoming, oil rigs in Texas, and natural gas fields in Pennsylvania power American prosperity. Removing heavy-handed restrictions means steady paychecks for workers and revitalized communities.
Growing demand for critical minerals means new opportunities in the mining sector. I recently introduced bipartisan legislation to boost America’s mining workforce. My legislation will support our mining schools. The students we empower and the talent we unlock will power America’s energy dominance for generations to come.
Third, energy security is national security. Europe last year spent $23 billion on Russian oil and gas. $23 billion is more money than Europe sent in aid to Ukraine. Europe’s energy crisis shows that dependency on our enemies for energy is self-defeating.
American energy dominance reduces our vulnerability. Clean coal powers our data centers, ensuring they grow in America, not overseas. Natural gas exports weaken Russia’s grip on Europe. Nuclear energy improves resilience. This is how we win the energy race and protect our nation.
Climate alarmists say traditional energy is the energy of the past. They miss the point. It is the energy of the future. Tomorrow’s technologies are going to need more affordable, reliable energy, not less. Coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy are not the enemy. They are the engine of economic growth.
We stand at a crossroads. One truth binds us: power for every American, from our land to your home. That is the Republican vision for energy. It is the spark of an American energy revolution. It is rocket fuel for a stronger economy and a more secure country.
• Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming is the Senate Majority Whip.
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