As a young person concerned about climate change, I want to see action that results in real emissions reductions. That’s why I want energy produced here in the United States, where we have some of the highest environmental standards and cleanest energy production. For an effective transition to sustainability, we need support for the development of cleaner fossil fuel energy as our renewable energy portfolio grows.
This strategy must include encouraging mining and processing here in the United States for the raw materials we need to build clean energy technologies. This eliminates the significant greenhouse gasses produced shipping materials around the world to be used here. Additionally, improving regulatory procedures is necessary to implement energy projects with the needed urgency.
To this end, H.R.1, the Lowering Energy Costs Act, is important in opening the conversation for bipartisan support for sustainability. I implore conservative representatives to work with House Energy & Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who cosponsors this bill, on clean energy solutions while maintaining pressure on the fossil fuel market to support the growth of infrastructure for cheaper, sustainable sources and practices.
Young conservatives like myself want an effective strategy that anticipates and prepares for challenges to the transition to sustainability, like affordability or energy security. We need an all-of-the-above approach to energy, including fossil, renewable, and nuclear energy. H.R.1 contains critical steps to securing America’s energy, and I hope to see additional bipartisan steps to address the climate challenge from the 118th Congress.
Kate Prophet is an activist with the American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action). She is based in Pullman.
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