The Lower Energy Costs Act is the environmentally friendly solution for everyone

OPINION:

“We need a renewables revolution, not a self-destructive fossil fuel resurgence,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced earlier this year when calling for a total shutdown on fossil fuel power generation. He’s not alone. Voices across the world are demanding immediate shuttering of baseload power sources and a swift switch to renewables. The only problem? Our infrastructure hasn’t gotten that memo.

We’re already seeing blackouts in states like California that claim to have the answers for our energy demands. We’re already seeing our adversaries completely dominate our critical mineral supply chain. We’re seeing energy prices skyrocket in the European Union as they rushed their energy transition. We’re already seeing the reality of EV production it requires a significant increase in mining and is extremely energy intensive. Optimists forecast that the number of EVs in the world will rise from today’s nearly 4 million to 400 million in two decades, but a world with 400 million EVs by 2040 would decrease global oil demand by only 6%. No amount of lofty goals from climate activists will change reality: we cannot simply wake up and cease fossil fuel usage. President Biden himself said during his State of the Union address that we’re going to depend on oil and gas for years. The Energy Information Administration predicts a 50% increase in global energy consumption by 2050, and the cleanest place to get that energy is right here at home.

It really is this simple: If we want to lower global emissions, we must produce energy and mine critical minerals in America.

As a conservative and avid outdoorsman, I will always advocate for policies that allow us to be the best possible stewards of our environment. Why would we want anything less? That’s why earlier this month we passed the Lower Energy Costs Act to responsibly face the reality of our world’s energy demands and prove there are real bipartisan solutions coming out of Washington. The legislation unleashes American energy production and gives us real solutions to meet the rapid increase in energy demands we can expect over the next 25 years.

If we can make the planet a cleaner place by producing more energy here in America, what are we waiting for?

If we want to talk about emissions, why not talk about the fact that Russian natural gas has a 47% higher emissions profile than American natural gas? Why not acknowledge that no country on earth has lowered emissions like the United States? We have the world’s most advanced technologies for clean energy, but why do we continue buying energy and minerals from adversaries when we can do it cheaper and cleaner, with the highest standards for labor and worker safety?

The Lower Energy Costs Act takes an all-of-the-above approach to energy policy that recognizes the role of conventional and renewable energy sources to meet our current and future energy needs. It supports the responsible development of all forms of energy, including oil, natural gas and renewables, and encourages continued innovation in energy technologies. It’s a no brainer for bipartisan support.

Critics of the Lower Energy Costs Act may argue that it prioritizes fossil fuels over renewable energy sources. However, the reality is that renewable energy sources alone cannot currently meet our nation’s energy demands, and we need to use a balanced approach that includes a mix of energy sources to ensure affordability and reliability. The bill acknowledges the important role of renewables in our energy mix and encourages their development through innovation and responsible permitting reform. By streamlining the permitting process for all kinds of energy sources we will ensure America has abundant and affordable energy now and into the future.

• U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman, Arkansas Republican, is the Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources and serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. An engineer and forester by trade, he was named Engineer of the Year by the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers in 2013. Prior to representing the state’s Fourth District in Congress, he served in the Arkansas General Assembly.