ESTABLISHING ENERGY DOMINANCE

WITH U.S. OIL & GAS PRODUCTION ALREADY AT RECORD LEVELS, WHICH SOURCE WILL EXPAND MORE, FOSSIL FUELS OR RENEWABLES?

- DAMIEN MARTIN

The Domestic oil and gas production is at an all-time high, so an expansion based solely on fossil fuels might not offer the potential for "energy dominance" that U.S. policy seeks.

Meanwhile, solar and wind power are, in most cases, cheaper than fossil fuels and growing rapidly. To achieve energy dominance, the U.S. might be better off sticking to an "all of the above" energy approach, especially given the increase in demand attributed to data centers and semiconductor fabrication facilities.

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Doug Burgum, the incoming secretary of the interior, embraced an all of the above approach as governor of North Dakota, one of the Great Plains states that has seen wind and solar industries ramp up in recent years, shifting public and political opinion on renewables. Incoming energy secretary Chris Wright is a big fracking proponent but also a supporter of nuclear and geothermal energy.

What renewables might need under a second Trump administration is a rebrand. For one thing, they’re domestic, which limits reliance on energy imports and improves energy security. For another, they create lots of jobs.

"THIS IS NOT A TIME TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TECHNOLOGIES. THIS IS THE TIME TO EXPAND AND INCREASE OUR ENERGY DOMINANCE ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO AND ACROSS THE WORLD."

ABIGAIL ROSS HARPER SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION