Celebrating Central Washington's clean energy

From September 26 to September 30, we are recognizing National Clean Energy Week, an opportunity to celebrate the clean energy advancements taking place across the country. In Central Washington, we have extra cause to celebrate because we have not only embraced clean energy as a critical part of an all-of-the-above energy portfolio, but we’re leading the country in the use of these technologies.

We are home to our state’s largest wind and solar farms, emerging hydrogen technologies, the Pacific Northwest’s only nuclear power plant, and our nation’s first clean energy resource: a powerful system of hydropower dams.

These dams are the lifeblood of our region, generating clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable power for our communities, our state, and our neighbors. Washington is the United States’ largest producer of hydroelectricity, generating about one-fourth of the nation’s hydroelectric power. In fact, during the recent “heat dome” in California, the four Lower Snake River Dams exported 1500 megawatts of energy to help cover the needs of their grid, proving just how crucial they are to a clean energy future, and baseload power in general.

In our district, we are proud the research and innovation taking place at the Lower Snake River Dams is paving the way for more efficient and more fish-friendly dams around the world, proving what we know to be true: dams and fish co-exist. I am a proud original cosponsor of the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, which encourages new hydropower development and reforms the licensing process so more communities can enjoy the benefits hydroelectric dams provide.

I am honored to serve on the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee where I can advocate for key investments in new and existing clean energy technologies for Central Washington and beyond. In addition to supporting hydropower generation, one of my priorities we are seeing come to fruition is supporting the development of advanced nuclear reactors, the first of which will be built right here in our district! Advanced nuclear reactors are being developed using funds directly appropriated through the Energy and Water Subcommittee into the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. These reactors represent the next generation of nuclear technology that will be essential to our clean energy future — generating safe, carbon-free, baseload energy that will power our homes and businesses.

For the past year and a half, I have served as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group of nearly 80 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who work together to advance commonsense energy, agriculture, and natural resources policies that benefit the rural communities we represent. As chairman, I have had the opportunity to work with members from across the country who represent rural communities where much of this clean energy development is taking place. I’ve been able to visit these members’ districts and see firsthand the different projects they are promoting — from hydroelectric dams that provide energy for an entire city in Iowa to a natural gas plant utilizing advanced techniques in West Texas.

The United States is the top reducer of carbon emissions in the world because we understand — when it comes to our energy strategy — we should be utilizing every resource available. Throughout National Clean Energy Week, we should be celebrating Central Washington as a model for what a resilient, all-of-the-above clean energy grid means to rural and urban communities. I am proud to represent such an energy-diverse district, and I look forward to continuing to further America’s clean energy leadership in Central Washington, rural America, and beyond!