Energy – Cleaner. Here. Now.

Cleaner Forms of Energy Are Always Better

America must invest in cleaner energy that is made in America. Cleaner energy made in America is better for our economy, our security, our health, and our environment.

In measuring how “clean” energy is, we must consider all phases of its development – the mining and manufacturing of energy generation components are too often overlooked.

Nuclear power and natural gas relying on environmentally responsible extraction are cleaner energy sources – and America should invest in their development, including R&D, to insure reliable, affordable, cleaner energy.

Renewable energy products relying on environmentally responsible mining and manufacturing are cleaner energy sources and should be supported through R&D, direct investments, and tax credits.

We Insist on Cleaner Energy Made in America

America’s renewable energy industry has been undermined by mercantilist Chinese policies that undersell U.S. competitors and have resulted in three U.S.-based solar manufacturers closing. China’s supply chain, including its rare earth mines, is not environmentally responsible. U.S. taxpayer dollars should not support foreign-sourced energy products that are developed through anti-competitive policies and from environmentally irresponsible supply chains. Taxpayer dollars should support renewable energy made in America and employing American workers.

Let’s Invest in Cleaner Nuclear, Natural Gas, and Renewable Energy Made in America

Geysers geothermal power plant in California (NREL)

There are good reasons to diversify our energy economy away from coal and oil.

Cleaner energy made in America is better for our health. Burning coal and oil results in unhealthy emissions of mercury, arsenic, particulate matter, and ozone precursors that have been linked to respiratory, cardiac, and other diseases. Public health alone is reason enough to invest in cleaner energy and to use energy as efficiently as possible.

Cleaner energy made in America is better for our national security. By developing our own domestically available, cleaner energy sources, like natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy, we will be less dependent on OPEC and other unfriendly oil exporting regimes.

Cleaner energy made in America is better for our economy. The world is increasingly globalized, and more people are economically competing for scarce energy resources. The country that develops the cleanest, most economical, most independent sources of energy will have a permanent competitive advantage – it will have less pollution, more affordable energy, and more independence. America should be that country.

Cleaner. Here. Now.

We must continue investing in renewable energy that is made in America with American workers and developed from clean supply chains that rely on environmentally responsible mining and manufacturing. We cannot allow China to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy. We must stop using scarce taxpayer dollars to support Chinese renewable energy products that rely on irresponsible supply chains and mercantilist, anti-competitive Chinese government policies that breach trade agreements and destroy American jobs.

We know how to build the safest nuclear plants. We must revitalize our nuclear industry and advance nuclear technologies through R&D.

We are blessed with abundant natural gas resources. We must invest in and develop those resources to their fullest extent. Fracking must continue – with best practices, sound regulation, and responsible companies, America has the ability to produce vast amounts of natural gas for our electric generation, manufacturing, home heating, and transportation needs.

We must continue investing in emissions controls to make our fleet of coal plants cleaner and we must insist on environmentally responsible coal production methods. Since China and India are building hundreds of new coal plants, the United States should develop the clean technology they will need to minimize pollution from those plants – that means more American jobs and a cleaner, healthier environment for America and the world.

Cleaner. Here. Now. It’s the right energy path for America to take.