WASHINGTON — Today, RealClearEnergy published an op-ed by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams as she reflects on 8 years of championing conservative clean energy leadership. From boosting U.S. energy independence to reducing global emissions, she highlights the Republican vision for an all-of-the-above energy future.
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I just celebrated my eighth anniversary running Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES). This milestone represents eight years of working to ensure Republicans have a seat at the table to discuss the benefits of unleashing American energy while lowering emissions.
During this time, I witnessed three presidential elections—each with its own nuances—and saw their impact on our nation’s political climate and public opinion. While clean energy and climate issues rarely break into the top concerns of voters, consistently voters poll highly on their desire for reliable, affordable and clean energy. CRES polling also consistently shows that 71 percent of voters believe that the federal government has a role in accelerating the deployment and use of clean energy.
It’s often forgotten that Republicans are the original champions of the environment. President Theodore Roosevelt was our nation’s proudest conservationist and President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This legacy has been reignited. Republicans have adjusted their engagement with energy and climate, understanding that climate policy and energy policy have a symbiotic relationship. Republicans have formed the House Conservative Climate Caucus and take part in the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus that is represented in both chambers of Congress.
Republicans refer to “all-of-the-above energy” and “homegrown energy” to show support of all domestically produced energy that gives our country a competitive advantage economically. They care deeply about the industries and innovation that bring new jobs and long-term opportunities to their home states and are committed to passing durable solutions.
These are important reminders as the Republican-led 119th Congress gets underway and as our country transitions to the Trump Administration. Indeed, Republicans unsurprisingly engage differently than Democrats in addressing energy and climate policy as is the case with most issues. Republican leadership in Washington is likely to offer solutions so that clean energy thrives, and emissions continue to decrease.
First, Republicans want to reverse the trend of America ceding energy leadership abroad. They feel strongly about bringing energy production back home, rather than relying on foreign—and often adversarial—nations to help us meet energy demands. This again means taking advantage of natural resources at our disposal—wind, rays of sun, water, heat from the Earth and more. Bolstering these domestic industries creates new manufacturing opportunities and ensures we avoid any chance of dependence on foreign adversaries.
And producing more energy couldn’t happen at a better time. Domestic data center power demand is expected to more than double by 2030 compared to today, with AI systems significantly contributing to this surge. Without the rapid expansion of reliable and affordable energy infrastructure, the growing energy needs of AI-driven technologies could outpace supply, threatening both innovation and domestic investments in a growing sector.
Another Republican priority is to enact permitting reform, making the federal government more efficient. Our current federal permitting process is stifling innovation and economic growth, with approvals taking anywhere from four to ten years plus additional years in litigation. To produce more energy—including renewable energy—we need more infrastructure to support it, which requires cutting bureaucratic red tape and implementing processes that foster new solutions and encourage domestic production.
Finally, abundance of energy resources allows the U.S. to export to other countries, fostering emissions reductions. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, fuel-switching from coal to natural gas accounted for approximately 61 percent of the U.S. emissions reductions between 2005-2020. This success story should be replicated in economically developing and emerging countries to reduce global pollution and help these nations improve outcomes for their citizens.
Some of these ideas were hardly discussed in 2016, but they are real and actionable in 2025 under Republican leadership. Coupling these priorities with the international AI race-to-the-top and the electricity demand needed to reach the summit, the reality is that Republicans’ goal of energy dominance is essential to ensuring that the United States comes out on top.
Heather Reams is the president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES).
Read the full op-ed here.