OPINION:
Data centers, onshoring of charging infrastructure, and the continued electrification of our homes and buildings are all driving unprecedented load growth. If we fail to keep up, Americans risk higher costs, less reliable power, and even rolling blackouts in the years ahead. America remaining the leader in the AI revolution is critical for our national security, and we need energy to keep that spot.
That’s why I have long supported an all-of-the-above energy approach, one that leverages every available source of power, from renewables to nuclear to responsibly managed fossil fuels.
This isn’t just about meeting demand; it’s about protecting our national security, lowering energy costs for families and businesses, and keeping our grid resilient for decades to come.
Nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance, and advanced technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are reshaping how we think about power generation. SMRs can be deployed where electricity is needed most, providing flexible, reliable, carbon-free energy.
I’ve worked to ensure our nuclear plants are safe, responsible, and fully capable of supporting our energy and security goals. Earlier this year, I led the effort to prevent nuclear wastewater from entering the Hudson River, and I helped introduce the bipartisan INSPECT Act. This legislation would require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to keep a resident inspector at decommissioning plants, like Indian Point, until all spent fuel is safely transferred into canisters.
These measures aim to protect communities, safeguard the environment, and enhance national energy security.
However, despite the excitement surrounding SMRs, they are still in the process of being developed in the United States. The earliest is expected to go critical in 2028, with the majority projected to come online around 2030. While this new technology is promising and represents the future of nuclear energy, until enough SMRs are available, we must rely on the rest of our generation mix to keep the grid supplied.
Hydropower provides reliable baseload power and flexible peaking energy when demand surges. Its reservoirs act as natural storage, allowing operators to ramp up or down generation quickly, a capability that intermittent renewables cannot match without large-scale battery systems. Modernizing existing hydro facilities is one of the most efficient ways to add clean, dependable energy to the grid while enhancing resilience and energy independence.
Other sources of energy, such as wind and solar, can be inexpensive, deployed quickly, and emit zero carbon emissions. While wind and solar offer many benefits, like every other generation source, they also come with drawbacks. Without battery storage, many of these projects may face reliability and maintenance challenges, ultimately leading to increased costs.
While renewables are critical, fossil fuels remain necessary to meet demand and ensure reliability. U.S. natural gas, unlocked through hydraulic fracturing, has made America the world’s largest LNG exporter.
This strengthens our global energy leadership, reduces reliance on foreign adversaries like Russia and Iran, and helps allies while displacing higher-emission sources abroad. At home, responsible fossil fuel use keeps energy affordable for families and businesses, an essential national security and economic concern.
Oftentimes in the pursuit of laudable goals, misguided states and municipalities have restricted critical sources of energy for communities and imposed unrealistic regulations. This is foolish and all it does is to drive up the costs on everything for Americans. Energy policy must be practical, but forward-looking, and always grounded in common sense.
By embracing an all-of-the-above energy strategy, we can provide Americans with reliable, affordable, and resilient electricity, strengthen our global position, and safeguard communities. This means advancing nuclear safety, increasing the utilization of hydroelectric power, building on existing clean energy investments, responsibly deploying battery storage, and maintaining a balanced presence in clean fossil fuels, such as natural gas.
The stakes are high, and we cannot afford to leave any source untapped. Our families, businesses, and national security depend on it.
Whether it comes from renewable sources such as nuclear, hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind, or from fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal, all must play a role in ensuring folks can keep the lights on at a cost that is sustainable for all Americans.
• Rep. Mike Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.
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