OPINION:
National Clean Energy Week—September 23-27—is a good time to recognize and celebrate Indiana’s commitment to an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy ranging from use of traditional energy sources such as coal and gas to cutting-edge nuclear energy research at Purdue University.
As a member of the Indiana General Assembly, where I represent Anderson and portions of southern Madison County, I am proud of the progress we have made as a state to invest in and develop our energy resources to increase America’s energy independence, thus diversifying our energy options, creating good-paying Hoosier jobs, and being able to be better stewards of our world for our kids and grandkids.
My view on diversifying our energy options and creating a stronghold for America’s energy independence ties back to one of my greatest influences: President Ronald Reagan.
In May 1987, President Reagan wrote in a message to Congress on energy security about the need to “continue conservation and progress toward diversification of our energy resources,” among other initiatives to ensure both economic and military security of our nation. Thirty-seven years later, the former president’s views remain compelling.
According to data from the Energy Information Administration, Indiana is the nation’s the eighth-largest coal producer, has the seventh-largest crude oil refinery in the nation, is the sixth-largest producer of fuel ethanol in the nation and is the nation’s fifth-largest producer of biodiesel. At the same time, renewable energy supplies 12% of the state’s total electricity net generation. This diversification of power sources exemplifies the “all-of-the-above” strategy needed to provide the energy independence required to thrive in the 21st century.
This diversification also has a second benefit: it helps us conserve our great nation’s environment and wildlife. Investing in new and cutting-edge energy technologies is not only a good way to help protect the air and water quality for Americans, it is also the smart thing to do from a purely economic standpoint.
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Diversifying our energy mix by expanding our use of clean energy resources is helping attract major investments and a range of new businesses and industries to our state. For example: the commitment by General Motors and Samsung SDI to build a new electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in St. Joseph County. Representing a $3.5 billion investment, the EV battery plant is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and roughly 1,600 permanent plant jobs for Hoosiers.
These kinds of investments and innovations are helping advance myriad related technologies here in Indiana. Continuing to support an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy that includes clean and renewable energy resources is critical to strengthening our economy while reducing America’s reliance on foreign sources of energy.
Moving forward, I hope fellow lawmakers and policymakers from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C., will continue to support affordable, economically advantageous, and forward-thinking energy policies that will help us power our homes, businesses, and communities more efficiently and reliably while continuing to improve quality of life in communities across the nation.
• Kyle Pierce has represented Indiana’s House District 36 since 2022.
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