Central Washington is home to a diverse and reliable energy portfolio, and with abundant natural resources at our doorstep—from hydropower to wind energy—we are proud to play a leading role in our nation’s energy independence. If we are to ensure the United States remains at the forefront of energy production and innovation, then our federal policy must take a page out of Central Washington’s book and aggressively pursue an “all-of-the-above” energy approach.
The idea of “all-of-the-above” energy is simple: we utilize all available sources of energy, both renewable and nonrenewable, to ensure our nation has a stable, secure, and reliable energy supply. This means not only investing in renewable energy technologies like wind and solar power but also developing our oil, natural gas, and coal resources responsibly. I’ve always said that energy security is national security—by adopting an all-of-the-above energy portfolio, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our national security.
Central Washington is a prime example of the benefits of an all-of-the-above energy approach. Our region is home to the Columbia and Snake Rivers, which provide hydropower to millions of people across the Pacific Northwest. We also have significant wind and solar energy potential, with numerous wind farms and solar arrays already in operation. However, the importance of traditional energy sources like oil and natural gas simply cannot be overlooked. While we work towards a more sustainable future, we must recognize and appreciate the significant role these energy sources play in our daily lives, our economy, and our national security. Oil and natural gas are both incredibly efficient and versatile fuels, capable of producing high amounts of energy with relatively low levels of emissions—particularly in the United States, where we produce energy cleaner and more responsibly than anywhere else in the world.
Right here in our backyard, nuclear energy has always played a significant role for a sustainable energy future. Nuclear is one of the most reliable sources of energy and has been powering Americans for over 60 years. It’s one of the cleanest sources of energy—in fact, nuclear power plants emit no greenhouse gas emissions. We must ensure nuclear remains an essential component of any strategy to meet our energy needs.
Our country has so many opportunities to expand our abundance of energy resources, but dangerous policies from the Biden Administration continue to cripple our domestic energy production. In just two years, the United States has gone from American energy dominance to begging for oil from our foreign adversaries—when we have a plentiful supply right here at home! Americans are struggling to pay the skyrocketing energy prices the Biden Administration’s policies have forced upon them, and it will only get worse if we don’t immediately reverse course.
Last week, I led members in the House of Representatives to introduce a resolution expressing that an “all-of-the-above” energy plan is the most viable approach to American energy independence. The United States produces energy cleaner and safer than anywhere else in the world, so why would we want to rely on foreign nations who don’t have the same standards? We should not be looking at our energy portfolio as “or” but rather as “and”—which is exactly what this legislation does. A balanced energy portfolio including American oil and natural gas, hydro and nuclear power, solar and wind, hydrogen, and everything in between will restore American energy independence and ensure a stronger America for generations to come.
