As Congress debates the federal budget, one issue should be a no-brainer for conservatives in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District: energy investments. These commonsense initiatives — first advanced under President George W. Bush — have grown alongside America’s need for energy independence and innovation. They’re about more than clean energy: jobs, national security and economic strength.
In the 2nd District — from the Eastern Shore to the heart of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Suffolk — we’ve seen firsthand how smart energy policy works. Private-sector investments in energy are creating good-paying jobs, strengthening our power grid and enhancing the resilience of key military installations. One example is Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, which is attracting significant capital and supporting local job growth.
Why is this happening? Federal energy investments reduce developers’ up-front costs, helping American businesses compete and innovate right here at home, not in Beijing or Moscow. These “America First” policies are reshoring supply chains, expanding manufacturing and bringing long-term economic development to Virginia.
Conservatives have historically fought for free enterprise, energy independence and American innovation. Strategic energy investments support all three. They level the playing field against foreign adversaries such as China, whose energy industries are heavily subsidized by their government. By contrast, U.S. companies rely on innovative policy tools to compete and win in the global market.
Virginia has long been an energy leader, thanks to strong bipartisan leadership from Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly. Our energy mix — natural gas, solar, nuclear, hydropower, offshore wind and even emerging technologies such as fusion — is among the most diverse in the nation. We’re also home to the largest pumped-storage hydropower facility in the United States. None of this happened accidentally, but is the result of long-term investment and sound policy decisions.
Some argue that investments in clean energy distort the free market, but let’s not forget that traditional fossil fuels used energy investment credits during the shale revolution. Conservatives understand that a genuinely competitive market means giving all American energy a fair shot. Clean, reliable, American-made energy is proving its worth, not through mandates but by competing on its merits and strengthening our energy independence. That’s a win for our economy, security and future.
We must recognize that energy policy is economic policy. Demand is rising due to electric vehicles, data centers and population growth. If we don’t modernize our grid and diversify our energy sources now, we risk higher prices, power instability and missed economic opportunities down the road.
This is also a national security issue. When we produce more energy at home, we reduce our reliance on unstable global markets and authoritarian regimes. Virginia’s 2nd District — home to vital military bases and critical infrastructure — has a direct stake in America’s energy future. The road to true energy independence runs through communities like ours, not through foreign capitals.
Rep. Jen Kiggans has shown authentic leadership by supporting an all-of-the-above energy strategy and her work with the Conservative Climate Caucus. She understands that energy policy should be about innovation, jobs and American strength, not partisanship. That’s why it’s disappointing to see the House miss the mark by failing to prioritize clean energy investments that drive growth and secure our future. But the opportunity isn’t lost — we still have a chance to get this right. There’s a path forward to ensure these smart, forward-looking investments stay on the agenda as the bill moves through the Senate.
These policies are rooted in conservative values — strengthening our economy, protecting our national security and building a future that prioritizes American workers and innovation. Congress has a clear choice. Lawmakers can help Virginia lead and keep America strong by including smart energy investments.
Let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s put America first by investing in energy sources that power our region, the commonwealth and the country.
Thomas Turner of Suffolk is the state director of Conservatives for Clean Energy Virginia. Sarah Rosa is the policy director at the American Conservation Coalition.
