It’s clear Governors-elect Sherrill and Spanberger were given a mandate after laying out how Democrats are fighting President Trump’s attacks on clean energy and working to address the energy affordability crisis. 

Over the next few years, the U.S. could see a 15 percent rise in energy demand and an 18 percent rise in electricity costs. I care deeply about tackling climate change. I also care about doing the smart thing to meet energy demand, lower costs, and compete against China in energy innovation. That means building a lot more cheap, clean energy like wind, solar, and battery storage.   

Just this week, I spoke at the Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) Grid Action dinner. I shared the work I'm doing to ensure American energy gets built fast and efficiently, without anyone putting their thumb on the scale.

In September, I introduced the Streamlining Powerlines Essential to Electric Demand (SPEED) and Reliability Act to accelerate the siting and permitting of critically needed electric transmission lines. The bill would ensure we don’t have to keep waiting years to build the power lines that will carry cheap, clean energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed.   

Also in September, I led the Problem Solvers Caucus in introducing a bipartisan permitting reform framework that meets today’s environmental challenges and invests in an energy system / grid for this century. Any permitting reform legislation must also include language making it certain that the President cannot revoke permits or cancel projects he doesn’t like. I’m working with a broad coalition of key stakeholders and my colleagues to ensure this is part of any deal and will have more to share on that soon.