By Scott Angelle

The standard of living we enjoy requires an intricate system of natural resources, expertise, manufacturing, and most importantly the women and men who work tirelessly to make life better for everyone. Among the many who make it happen, USA Energy Workers, with a history of dedication, skill, and work ethic who explore, develop, produce, generate, distribute, refine, process, and transport energy, deserve our appreciation because energy ain’t easy.

Whether it’s coal, nuclear, solar, wind, wave, hydro, geothermal, or offshore/onshore oil and gas energy, energy ain’t easy. Abundant energy is necessary for a modern economy and essential for our livelihood. America has experienced six recessions from 1973 to 2019, all preceded by spikes in energy prices. It is not debatable, as goes our access to affordable energy, so goes our nation’s economic performance.

Armed with triple recognition of (1) the value of our USA energy workers, (2) the need for energy in a modern economy, and (3) the understanding that regardless of the source, energy ain’t easy, we should commit to achieving public policy which ensures Americans that the next generation will have a standard of living as good as or better than previous generations.

To illustrate the challenges of energy, one only needs to look to the past few months. In mid-August, OilPrice.com reported, “Nearly 40% of the announced clean energy projects under Biden’s IRA, worth $84 billion, are facing delays or indefinite pauses.”

In reporting on research conducted by the Financial Times, the delays may last a couple of months, several years, or be indefinitely paused. Among those affected are solar panel factories, battery storage projects, and a lithium refinery facility.  The research cited tumbling solar panel prices because of overproduction by the Chinese.  Other factors contributing to the delays are “higher-than-planned costs” for labor, materials, and increased interest rates, all impacting manufacturing plants in the U.S.

In the offshore wind arena, operational growing pains are creating stalls and an unsure future. In mid-July, a Vineyard’s Wind turbine failed and ended up in pieces on Nantucket’s beaches miles north of the wind farm. Most troublesome for the wind energy industry are the renewed protests this incident brings. It is another obstacle the wind energy sector faces while seeking to establish itself as a reliable and safe energy producer.

Another recent entry in the energy mix is electric vehicles (EVs) as a mode of transportation. In May 2024, CNN characterized the difficulties the EV industry is facing as a phase of “crossing the chasm,” to the mass market. It doesn’t matter if you are producing energy or fuel or developing machines that use alternative forms of energy – energy ain’t easy.

Regarding traditional energy production, the pausing, then canceling of offshore lease sales and interrupting permitting for Liquified Natural Gas production, have rattled the confidence of these sectors. Regarding the challenges of building additional and urgently needed electric generation and transmission infrastructure, too many organizations and policymakers have lost sight of the nation’s needs and continue to put up roadblocks. Excessive litigation and over-regulation are leading to strangulation. Those who either don’t understand our basic energy needs or prefer to limit our energy choices continue to protest, litigate, delay decisions, slow walk needed permits, or sow confusion. This bureaucratic and counterproductive approach leads to delays, more expensive energy, and, ultimately, power blackouts.

It took USA Energy Workers laboring through decades of blood, sweat, and backbreaking work to build the world’s largest energy infrastructure.  In turn, the American people have enjoyed a standard of living and quality of life that other countries strive to achieve.

History has shown, when it comes to energy, there is no panacea. Our best hope is to embrace the inspiration, dedication, and innovation of our USA Energy Workers to usher in the next era of energy infrastructure, including traditional energy, to secure America’s energy security, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity.

We are reminded of the cliché “If you can read thank a teacher.” Our teachers deserve our unending gratification.  This September, it should be, “If you can read at night, in your warm or cool home, thank a teacher and a USA Energy Worker.” They deserve to be elevated and celebrated.

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Scott Angelle is a former federal energy regulator and Louisiana lieutenant governor.