Rep. Balderson’s Bill Would Define “Affordable, Reliable, Clean” Energy in Federal Law
February 12, 2026
- Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) talks with host Jack Fowler (left) on the Victor Davis Hanson podcast about the availability of natural gas and his proposed ARC Energy Security legislation.
- Balderson discussed several pieces of legislation that would streamline energy production and regulation.
Need to know
- Check out TEA’s website for the latest in energy news and opinion.
- ATEA: Mother Nature: “We need ARC Energy Security.”
- TEA Takes: Recognizing failure, some liberals are reshaping their climate messaging.
- Trump guts basis for climate regulation, setting up a courtroom clash.
- Indian refiners avoid Russian oil in push for a US trade deal.
- White House eyes data center agreements amid energy price spikes.
- US LNG remains profitable despite oversupply concerns.
- The Clear Horizons Act, setting emissions goals, heads to the New Mexico Senate floor.
- Trump EPA to take biggest swing yet at climate change rules.
- A Virginia bill aims to cut residential energy costs by shifting expenses to data centers.
- Opinion: Federal regulators finally get out of the climate business.
ARC In The States
- West Virginia House Bill 4894 has been introduced. The purpose of this bill is to restore utility affordability and reliability. It proposes setting setting standards for affordable, reliable, and clean energy.
REALCLEAR
- It’s time for America to start building again — Permitting reform is the engine.
- Affordable, Reliable, Clean story stream.
Common Sense
CAUTION IS WARRANTED: The North American Electric Reliability Corporation reports that half of our nation is at high risk of blackouts.
Why it matters: The handwriting is on the wall. It may sound a bit ominous, but America faces a huge problem.
This dilemma can be resolved, at least in part, by codifying America’s energy independence — and taking a giant step forward to secure our nation’s prosperity for generations to come. We are referring to Affordable, Reliable, Clean energy as federal law, a measure that would help protect consumers for decades.
Consider:
- More than half the US was at “elevated risk” last year. Now, five of 17 regions have moved into “high risk,” putting 150+ million Americans at risk of blackouts.
- Many on-site, on-demand power sources will retire within five years, replaced by weather-dependent systems (wind and solar) that weaken grid reliability.
- During Winter Storm Fern, coal supplied about 40% of Midwest power, 24% in the East, and 18% in Texas.
- Natural gas and nuclear carried most of the rest — together providing up to 90% of power in some regions.
The so-called renewable sources bottomed out, contributing very little. Had Fern been stronger, many grids likely would not have handled the surge in energy demand.
As the American Consumer Institute author points out, we should be building systems that meet peak demand, not political agendas.
It’s worth noting that nationwide natural gas installations more than doubled in 2025.
Expanding the amount of wind and solar may increase overall energy capacity, but they decrease grid reliability. They do not perform to the same standard.
Bottom line: American consumers deserve affordable, reliable and abundant energy. ARC Energy Security will deliver it.
Nonsense
DEMS FEEL THE NEED FOR ‘SPEED’: Democrats say the next IRA will be about ‘speed.’ Frustrated by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act’s slow rollout, they say their next climate bill must yield benefits voters can see quickly.
Why it matters: Their message for the midterms, though false, is Republican policies have driven up energy prices for Americans. The ill-timed and poorly named IRA did the real damage.
Democrats unfortunately passed the IRA in 2022 using the budget reconciliation process, which only requires a simple majority in the Senate. Republicans used the same process for their One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Consider:
- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the IRA’s energy and climate spending at $386 billion, mostly for clean energy tax credits, electrification, green retrofits and EV incentives.
- That money could have gone to veterans’ healthcare, senior housing and other real priorities.
- Instead, much of it was plagued by waste and fraud — including $47 billion for costly EVs most consumers don’t want.
- Programs like “Solar for All” collapsed, with grants terminated after using just 1% of available funds.
The International Energy Agency, in its November 2025 World Energy Outlook, has revised their estimate as to when peak oil demand will occur from 2030 to 2060.
A conservative $6 trillion investment has reduced hydrocarbon consumption by a whopping 2% in 40 years.
The IRA simply was a colossal failure and an example of the government picking winners and losers. Remember former President Biden’s Green Energy Slush Fund.
Thankfully, much of that ended when President Trump took office.
The fraud and abuse clearly demonstrates the need for model ARC Energy Security legislation, as introduced by Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) last October.
Bottom line: These subsidies faced little oversight, and often failed to deliver real returns for taxpayers. Good riddance, IRA, and your billions of wasted dollars.
A look ahead
FERC Open Meeting: On Thursday, February 19, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold an Open Meeting of the Commission.
Quote of the week
“Does this add a little more stress to the oil and gas industry? I’m sure it does. But new supply, new competition always adds stress to industries. And that’s what drives innovation and progress in America.”