Election years often bring talk of “Energy Independence,” but what does that term really mean?
The Advanced Power Alliance believes the United States can prosper without being reliant on imported energy. We also live in a resource hungry world in which our allies are actively seeking to break their energy reliance on hostile regimes in Russia and the Middle East. Thanks to our diverse energy mix, America is well-positioned to meet our own economic and national security needs while also being a global energy supplier.
Alabama can contribute to that effort.
Delivering cleaner, cheaper, and more abundant energy is critical to this mission. Every state has the opportunity to become an even greater energy producer over the next decade. In addition to expanding traditional energy sources like natural gas, increasing our renewable energy capacity, using solar power for example, can help achieve these important goals. And doing so helps states meet rising commercial and industrial demand, delivering for customers seeking clean energy at the most affordable price, which is encouraging economic development. Alabama is leading in this area and benefiting from major new investments.
Solar development also brings tremendous opportunities for individual landowners and farmers looking to diversify or strengthen their operations for the long term. America’s family farms are a treasure and under threat, which is why we must find ways to make every state’s agricultural economy more resilient. Diversifying into energy production to add financial stability is one piece of that puzzle. Major capital investments like solar farms also add to the local ad valorem tax base, bringing new tax revenue to fund education, provide essential services, and improve communities. The promise of affordable energy, new economic development, landowner opportunities, and increased tax revenues is extremely positive and attractive.
As with any newer technology like solar power, there will be both opposition and misinformation that emerges. Social media is often flooded with false claims about clean power options, sometimes deliberately created — often by very biased competitive interests. Thankfully, Alabamians have the common sense to see through these tactics and, once properly informed about planned projects, express their strong support for homegrown energy production. They also voice support for protecting private property rights so that Alabama landowners can participate in the energy economy.
Alabama can take immediate steps towards energy independence and contribute to the country’s overall energy dominance. Embracing more solar power while also encouraging traditional energy production will guarantee consumers affordable power in the short term and provide a multitude of other long-term benefits to communities around the state.
Jeffrey Clark is the president of the Advanced Power Alliance, which promotes the development of America’s cleaner, cheaper, reliable energy resources.