Energy/Environment

Climate change is one of the greatest existential threats facing our planet. If we do not dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and modernize our energy system, the already disastrous effects of climate change will get much worse — including extreme weather, worsening air quality and crop failures.

As a policymaker for nearly two decades, and a mother to two young kids, I have witnessed and tried to get ahead of these trends. From my time in the Virginia General Assembly to my work on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have led work to advance smart climate solutions that will position Virginia as a leader in the clean energy economy, hold fossil fuel industries accountable, keep pace with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and lower energy costs for working Americans.

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are making it harder to meet rising energy demand without higher costs, greater health risks for families or further harm to our environment. Their decimation of the Department of Energy workforce, attacks on research universities, rollbacks of environmental regulations and introduction of tariffs impacting the energy sector hinder our ability to harness new technologies to meet this critical moment. And in Virginia, where we are home to major national security installations and serve as the data center capital of the world, rollbacks of key funding and programs will only make it harder for the United States to lead the global clean energy transition.

We have a responsibility to our children, our environment, our economy and our communities to make clean energy and energy efficiency central to a forward-thinking energy and environmental policy.