Op-ed: Showcasing American energy on the global stage

WASHINGTON — The Odessa American recently published an op-ed by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) outlining their trips to COP29 or the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss how the U.S. can lower global emissions while also increasing domestic energy production to meet a growing electricity demand. 

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Just before the holidays, we were fortunate to lead respective delegations with congressional members and staff to Baku, Azerbaijan, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference—COP29. During the trip our message remained a constant: The United States has proven that we can significantly reduce emissions without sacrificing innovation, economic growth or national security. In fact, we can do so by embracing an all-of-the-above approach to energy generation and taking advantage of American resources and ingenuity.

A rush to embrace a one-size-fits-all “green” agenda has weakened our energy security and made us overly dependent on nations such as China, the world’s largest polluter. To achieve energy dominance our country needs a diverse energy portfolio that includes all-of-the-above — natural gas, hydrogen, hydropower, nuclear, wind and solar. Unleashing all forms of American energy will cement our nation’s energy independence while paving the way for new job opportunities and economic growth in every corner of our country.

In the previous Congress, Republicans prioritized legislation to cut our reliance on foreign energy, streamline the permitting process for critical minerals and expand access to clean American energy. In this next Congress, Republicans must help enact laws to make this a reality. Doing so will continue to reduce emissions while promoting economic growth.

Another priority must be passing comprehensive permitting reform. Currently, on federal lands, it takes roughly four years to construct utility-scale wind and solar projects, seven to ten years to obtain a mining permit, and ten years to build a new transmission line. Additionally, most major projects face years of litigation uncertainty, which further increases costs and can significantly prolong the time between an initial proposal and actual deployment. 

A streamlined federal permitting system would significantly enhance business efficiency, attract investments and benefit consumers by ensuring timely project completion. Without predictable project timelines and efficient access to resources and energy, the U.S. risks falling behind in drawing and retaining global investments.

In addition to permitting reform, we must bolster our nuclear energy capabilities. One of the most consistent themes throughout the trip was the global role of nuclear energy in providing reliable, carbon-free baseload power, particularly with the booming energy demand upon us. In order for the U.S. to lead in the effort to increase nuclear generation, we must build upon bipartisan action taken in 2024 to modernize our nuclear regulatory scheme and unlock much-needed investments in nuclear energy.

The innovation that comes out of the United States, especially in the nuclear and natural gas sectors, has helped us reduce emissions more than any other nation, and we have the capacity to continue helping our allies reduce their emissions by exporting clean, reliable sources. We cannot allow our energy future to be dictated by adversarial nations, like China and Russia. Instead, as we engage with our international partners, it’s crucial to work together to promote solutions that prioritize energy security and environmental responsibility. By leveraging the innovation that we see in the United States and elsewhere, we can do both.

Throughout our week at COP, we showcased commonsense solutions that strengthen American energy leadership, bolster energy security, lower global emissions and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries while fostering collaboration with our allies. We are proud to represent U.S. Republicans in these international conversations and recognize the need to advance global commonsense solutions.

As we look toward a new Congress and new administration, we will continue to champion an all-of-the-above energy approach, prioritizing American energy and American innovation.

Heather Reams is the president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES).

Rep. August Pfluger represents the 11th District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Read the full op-ed here.

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