OPINION:
Private investments in clean energy are pouring into red states and districts across the country, creating jobs and economic opportunity. It is evidence that a conservative approach to climate, one that is pro-innovation and all-of-the-above, can simultaneously ensure economic prosperity and reduce or offset emissions for all energy sources.
Georgia is a great example of this in action. According to the Atlas Public Policy and Utah State University’s Clean Economy Tracker, the private sector has invested close to $30 billion in clean energy in the state and created 35,000 jobs. Georgia’s First Congressional District ranked 4th in the nation with investments of $9 billion in clean energy that spurred the creation of nearly 12,000 jobs. When Hyundai opens its electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing plant in Bryan County, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2024, it will be the largest single economic development project in the state’s history with more than 8,100 jobs created. Georgia continues to be a leader in clean energy while remaining one of the greatest places to start a business.
Georgia is also home to the well-known Vogtle nuclear power plant, the first newly constructed nuclear reactor to be built in the United States in over three decades. That feat is made possible through American innovation and ingenuity. Once all of Vogtle’s four units are online, it will be the largest nuclear reactor in the country. And despite facing headwinds, the project marked the beginning of the return of American nuclear energy leadership a crucial aspect of our ability to meet climate and clean energy goals while providing reliable, affordable energy to Americans.
Additionally, the state gets about 40% of its electricity from carbon-free sources while at the same time boasting some of the lowest electricity prices around 20% below the national average. And on top of Georgia’s national leadership on clean energy, the state has effectively reduced emissions, all while witnessing economic and population growth proof that addressing climate change and embracing clean energy does not have to be bad for the economy.
It’s clear that embracing clean energy can be aligned with conservative principles, and young conservatives agree. In fact, a recent poll from the American Conservation Coalition found that 76% of young conservatives support a clean energy expansion. Younger generations see the opportunity presented by integrating new energy sources into our economy, and Georgia is the case study.
Red states, including Georgia, are proof that conservatives are best positioned to lead on clean energy and climate change. Rather than mandating or banning sources of energy, Georgia has allowed the market to simply work. The fact is that red states are not garnering record levels of private investments because of top-down mandates. Instead, they are cutting red tape, unleashing innovation, and embracing an all-of-the-above strategy. Not only are these solutions inherently conservative, but they are also more effective.
As vice chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus and Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials, I, Congressman Carter, have seen an increased appetite for innovative energy solutions from my fellow Republicans. We know that clean energy will be integral in growing American energy dominance and addressing the environmental challenges that our world faces. We can do this in an all-of-the-above way, without sacrificing the reliability and affordability that fossil fuel sources have given us for generations.
The United States has always been a beacon of innovation on the world stage, and there is no reason that we should abdicate leadership on clean energy. Conservatives must champion this cause and show that a true all-of-the-above energy approach is not only possible, but also inherently conservative.
• Rep. Buddy Carter represents Georgia’s First Congressional District, serving as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Minerals. Chris Barnard is the president of the American Conservation Coalition, the largest youth conservative environmental organization in the country.
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