This is a guest commentary column
Governor Kay Ivey’s proclamation declaring September 23-27 as National Clean Energy Week is just one of many examples of responsible Republican leadership in developing clean energy that strengthens our communities and protects our precious natural resources. As a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, where I am proud to represent the 39th District, I am grateful to Governor Ivey for her continued leadership and support of our state’s comprehensive approach to energy.
As the governor noted in her proclamation, Alabama is now the fifth-largest producer of nuclear power in the entire country—not to mention it’s the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power east of the Rocky Mountains. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), hydroelectric plants generated about 70% of our state’s total renewable electricity generation in 2022.
Adding renewables like solar, hydro and biomass to our already diverse mix of energy resources – as well as natural gas, nuclear and other energy resources – will help us further reduce pollutant emissions while increasing capacity to ensure we can meet energy needs and address the challenges facing communities across the state.
In addition, clean energy is an increasingly important sector of our economy, already supporting approximately 44,000 jobs across the state, according to Governor Ivey’s proclamation. If we continue to make strategic, thoughtful investments in developing our clean energy resources and expanding our clean energy infrastructure, we can continue to create much-needed 21st century jobs for hard-working Alabamians.
Access to clean energy is important for major U.S. companies committed to net-zero emissions. The announcement by Governor Ivey and the Alabama Department of Commerce earlier this year that Meta—the social media giant that owns Facebook and Instagram, among others—would invest in a new data center in Montgomery is a perfect example of this. The company’s investment is contingent on the new facility being able to run on 100% renewable energy.
For Meta and other industry leaders across the spectrum of the U.S. economy, clean energy is no longer a desire, but a necessity. That’s why it’s so important that Alabama continues to invest in clean energy generation, production and transmission, as well as the infrastructure needed to make it happen. By doing so, our state will be well positioned to attract new companies and industries that are as committed to economic growth as they are to environmental protection.
As Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature work to advance smart policies that strengthen and secure Alabama’s energy and economic future, our congressional delegation should help ensure that Republicans in Congress continue to support similar pro-growth clean energy policies nationally. I am confident that by working together, Republicans can and will lead the way in developing clean energy that reduces our environmental impact while creating jobs and supporting economic growth in communities across Alabama and this great country.
State Representative Ginny Shaver is a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives for the 39th district.th District.
