Let’s recognize our nation’s clean energy advancements

OPINION:

It’s no secret: Clean energy development is on the rise. Governors across the country have welcomed recent investments from the federal government, encouraging the use of tax credits to attract new businesses, and clearing regulatory hurdles to ensure streamlined, efficient use of these resources.

Clean energy is critical for American energy leadership, economic prosperity, and a healthier climate. So now is an opportune time to recognize and celebrate the growth of clean energy during National Clean Energy Week, September 25-29.

Now in its seventh year, National Clean Energy Week is a chance to highlight bipartisan collaboration and the progress made toward a cleaner energy future. As NCEW chair, I am incredibly proud of the platform we have convened where, over the next week, participants will showcase their work to diversify our energy portfolio, incentivize American innovation, and clear the way for further development of clean energy technologies.

In a demonstration of bipartisanship, NCEW is proud that dozens of Republican and Democratic governors have recognized Clean Energy Week in their states and that bipartisan resolutions noting the week have been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. Thank you to the Congressional leads of the resolution — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) — and to all the House and Senate cosponsors who helped introduce the bipartisan, bicameral resolution. It is because of their leadership in Congress that we have this opportunity to appreciate the strides the U.S. has made.

At the core of NCEW is the Policymakers Symposium, a three-day conference featuring robust panel discussions, remarks, and an exchange of ideas by energy leaders, members of Congress, administration officials, and experts. The Symposium explores the challenges facing clean energy development and policy improvements the United States can make to continue innovating low-carbon technologies. Speakers will underscore the good-paying jobs created, the economic benefits local communities and states are experiencing due to investment in new clean energy projects, and how diversifying the energy grid results in stronger energy and national security.

Additionally, panelists will outline the importance of leveraging America’s carbon advantage to bolster our competitiveness across the globe and to enable our country to hold bad actors like China, whose manufacturing sector is three times more carbon-intensive than ours accountable for increasing emissions.

Addressing climate change is a global challenge and to tackle it, we must use every tool at our disposal. That means championing the development of renewable energy sources, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, battery storage, geothermal and hydropower; increasing production and use of nuclear power; continued natural gas use and development, focused on responsible transport via pipelines while reducing carbon and methane emissions; and it means investing in nascent and emerging technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

At the same time, the U.S. must onshore critical mineral supply chains and manufacturing so that we can reduce our reliance on foreign countries and strengthen our energy security. We must reform our permitting processes so that clean energy projects are developed within our world-class environmental protections but are not delayed or halted due to duplicative and burdensome requirements. It means we find compromise in modernizing our grid so that more homegrown energy is safely transmitted to families and businesses across America.

And we must continue to do what Americans do best: innovate.

In fact, the first wind turbines were created to generate electricity in Ohio. The first large-scale solar plant was built in California. The world’s first geothermal district heating system was created in Idaho. Today, new and exciting clean energy technologies are developed by American researchers and scientists in our national labs and at private companies across the country. This is exactly the type of innovation NCEW hopes to continue to inspire that makes our country prosperous, healthy, and safe.

National Clean Energy Week 2023 is dedicated to the progress we have made as a country and giving momentum to the work that remains.

Finally, I extend gratitude for this year’s sponsors who make National Clean Energy Week possible:

Platinum Sponsors: Amazon, Breakthrough Energy, Conservation International, Constellation, CRES Forum, Edison Electric Institute, and Solar Energy Industries Association

Gold Sponsors: American Chemistry Council, American Conservation Coalition, American Exploration & Production Council, bp, Chevron, ClearPath, ESS, Inc., ExxonMobil, Leeward Renewable Energy, National Hydropower Association, Schneider Electric, UL Standards & Engagement, The Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and View Inc.

Silver Sponsors: American Clean Power, American Gas Association, Association of American Railroads, Battery Council International, Bipartisan Policy Center, Climate Leadership Council, Combined Heat & Power Alliance, Connector Labs, Conservative Climate Foundation, Conservative Energy Network, EDP Renewables, EOS, Electric Power Supply Association, Hydrostor, Large Public Power Council, Modern Hydrogen, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nexans, NGV America, PG&E, Quebec, and The Washington Times

• Heather Reams is chair of National Clean Energy Week and president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2017 to educate Republican policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge.