Post Image

Energy Dominance Starts With Affordability

January 15, 2026

Need to know

Common Sense

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE BILL: American energy dominance will lower costs for consumers and power the future. This piece by Ted Ellis points out energy policy must be judged by one standard: does it help people live better, more prosperous lives?
His take: “For too long, our leaders failed us on that front. Policies of restriction from previous administrations drove up costs, weakened our electric grid, and punished working families. President Donald Trump and the 119th Congress have wisely reversed that course.”
Why it matters: In states like California and New York, families pay as much as double the national average for power and rates rise up to three times faster than the rest of the country. An independent study also shows Blue states equals high rates as a result of  pushing renewable energy mandates.
Others in the Midwest and Atlantic region are dealing with skyrocketing costs from PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator. This is driven partially by the growth in AI and data center campuses.
Consider: The solution, at least in part, is ARC Energy Security, the bill introduced by Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) last October.
The bill guarantees that our most affordable and reliable energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas, remain part of the energy mix. That’s a crucial requirement to guarantee affordable and reliable energy for American households, business and industry.
The beauty of the bill is its simplicity. Its basis, according to its author, are “common sense objectives rather than slogans and empty promises.”
  • It provides a crucial tool for Congressional oversight.
  • It also promotes abundance over forced scarcity.
  • Perhaps most importantly, the bill formally defines three key energy terms for regulators: Affordable, Reliable and Clean.

Currently, these terms can be left open to interpretation by the executive branch and can shift from one administration to the next.
Politicizing America’s energy resources by subsidizing “alternatives” and crafting laws that prioritize wind and solar over hydrocarbons leads to more expensive and less reliable electricity generation.

That’s why Congress must move forward with ARC Energy Security and stop this practice.
Bottom line: Generating accessible and affordable electricity — essential for modern-day life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — depends on our most accessible and affordable resources.

Nonsense

PUSHING GREEN SEEMS MEAN: Forcing people to go green can backfire. A new study reveals a conundrum for climate policy: People hate it when you tell them what to do.
Why it matters: Imagine that. Most Americans don’t like mandates, bans or restrictions on anything, including their energy choices. Neither do Germans, where researchers found that even people who care about climate change had a notably negative response to mandates or bans that did things like limit thermostat temperatures or meat consumption, which they saw as restricting their freedoms.
Most Americans feel the same way.
Consider: Recent stories coming out of Washington state, where a referendum is being challenged that allows businesses and households to choose natural gas, clearly shows this pushback.
Colorado is another example where banning gas stoves seems like a mission. The federal government is suing two California cities over proposed natural gas bans in new buildings.
Whether it’s light bulbs, home furnaces or stovetops, consumers should be allowed freedom of choice. Yet the spending continues at a frenetic pace as well-heeled activists try to sway public opinion and influence lawmakers.
  • Environmental groups’ federal lobbying: In recent years (e.g., 2023), major environmental organizations spent over $30 million on federal lobbying efforts.
  • The American Clean Power Association spent record amounts lobbying in 2025, including about $3.8 million the second quarter of 2025.
  • Other sector groups also increased spending markedly last year as they pushed to preserve the Biden-era’s green energy tax incentives.
The message should be clear by now. Stop pushing the mandates. Rescind the bans. Reduce the regulations.
President Trump and his team obviously get that, declaring from Day One in office the goal of unleashing American energy.
That’s why ending the renewable energy subsidies that saved taxpayers billions of dollars matters. It’s also why offshore wind that is costly and inefficient has been halted, despite recent court challenges.
Bottom line: Give consumers the facts and let them —not activist judges backed by left-wing lobbyists — decide.

A look ahead

Hearing On Rural Development: On Wednesday, January 21, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains will have a hearing on “Empowering Rural America Through Investment in Innovation.”

Hearing On Deep Sea Mining: On Wednesday, January 21, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will have a hearing called “Deep Dive: Examining the Regulatory and Statutory Barriers to Deep Sea Mining.”

FERC Open Meeting: On Thursday, January 22, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold an Open Meeting of the Commission.

Quote of the week

“I and federal Republicans are trying diligently to lower your energy bills through deregulation and the free market — which is common sense especially here in PA since we have an abundance of natural gas and resources.”