OPINION:
As a co-founder and current co-chair of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus, I know firsthand how vital energy exports are to strengthening the American economy and safeguarding our position as a global energy leader.
Representing West Virginia, I see the impact every day. Expanding energy exports supports local communities by creating good jobs for hardworking men and women, and lowers costs here at home, all while giving our allies abroad a secure and dependable alternative to hostile foreign suppliers.
With global competition intensifying, the United States must act decisively to cement its role as the world’s dominant energy producer. The path forward begins with unleashing the full potential of liquefied natural gas production (LNG), while also continuing to utilize traditional energy resources such as coal mining.
By pairing these foundational industries with innovative technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other emerging clean energy solutions, we can achieve the balance needed for long-term growth.
West Virginia is well-equipped with the resources needed for the proper execution of CCS. With Class VI primacy, state officials have authority over the implementation of new CCS wells without having to go through federal red tape and long waiting periods at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Class VI primacy allows West Virginia to move projects forward and expand clean energy production. By resuming LNG permits and advancing carbon capture, we can drive growth, create thousands of new jobs for Mountaineers, and strengthen America’s leadership in energy.
One way I have already advanced this mission is by co-founding the Congressional Energy Export Caucus with my colleagues, making the growth of American energy a bipartisan priority. Through this effort, we are showing the world that energy security is not a partisan issue but a national imperative.
In January, the Congressional Energy Export Caucus celebrated the Department of Energy’s decision to resume processing applications for LNG. This is an important step towards restoring confidence in America’s energy industry, as LNG exports allow us to fully utilize our abundant resources, expand production, and provide our allies with a dependable supply of energy.
Continued U.S. leadership in exporting LNG also furthers global emissions goals. Unlike the United States where methane emissions are modest, regulated, and declining Russia’s natural gas production facilities and distribution networks are old, largely unregulated, and leaky. A Department of Energy study shows that American LNG can be up to 30% cleaner than Russian natural gas and that if we do not fulfill the demand for LNG and let other countries like Russia control the markets, emissions will continue to rise.
Along with this, I was proud to stand by and support President Donald Trump as he announced a trade deal with the European Union (EU) in late July. This deal consisted of the EU promising to purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy exports and invest $600 billion into our nation by the year 2028. I have heard from several high-ranking officials from countries around the world that they believe buying U.S. energy exports will be a key component of President Trump’s trade deals, and I am confident that President Trump will see this through.
I will continue working with the president and his administration as well as energy champions in Congress to see this agreement come to fruition and bring large energy investments to our nation’s economy.
West Virginia takes great pride in our energy exports. We are the nation’s second-largest coal producer and account for over 15% of the nation’s coal production. I know how important this industry is to West Virginia, and the rest of the nation, which is why I have introduced and co-sponsored several pieces of legislation in support of the coal mining industry.
Combining coal mining with innovative technologies to maximize exports has been one of my biggest priorities in Congress, which is why I collaborated with my colleagues earlier this year to introduce the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act. This bipartisan bill focuses on capturing and repurposing mine methane emissions to be used as energy in the United States. This is a huge step in investing in cutting edge technologies and fusing together multiple energy strategies to bolster American energy dominance.
Along with this, I am in full support and voted in favor of The National Coal Council Reestablishment Act, which permanently reestablishes the National Coal Council, so it isn’t forced through complicated federal hurdles every other year.
West Virginia sits at the heart of America’s energy future, where our coal expertise and all-of-the above energy mindset can expand exports and strengthen our economy. By continuing to champion our longstanding baseload energy production and investing in the next generation of energy technology, we can produce reliable energy for the world and stay ahead of our adversaries in the global energy race.
• Rep. Carol Miller represents West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. Miller serves on the Committee on Ways and Means. Prior to her election to Congress in 2018, she served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2018 where she rose to become the first female Majority Whip.
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