Branded Blog

When I visit constituents in the Uinta Basin, I remind them they are the true environmentalists. This comment always gets some laughs because this isn’t how they would usually label themselves, but there's a serious point behind it: everywhere I go in Utah, I meet people committed to leaving the Earth better for future generations. The United States enforces some of the strictest environmental regulations globally, making our fossil fuels superior—cleaner and more affordable than those from many other regions. For example, our natural gas is 40% cleaner than Russian natural gas.

However, from just looking at 2020 to 2022, there has been an 85% decrease in the Biden-Harris Administration's approval of permits for oil and gas wells. This downturn has hit hard in Utah, where 90% of some counties in my district are on public lands. These areas often experience economic volatility, and the current federal stance pushes us to depend on oil from countries like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela—nations with lax environmental standards and poor human rights records. This policy not only threatens our environmental and human rights standards but also our national security. I strongly believe we need to reduce worldwide gas emissions, so why rely on foreign adversaries for energy when America already leads in clean energy production?

In the Uinta Basin, as well as many other rural and energy rich counties in Utah, residents are part of the solution to our energy challenges—not the problem. To truly unlock the potential of our federal lands, we must reform our permitting processes. I've witnessed numerous energy projects, from fossil fuels to nuclear and renewable energies like geothermal, wind, and solar, stalled by bureaucratic delays. I strongly support efforts to streamline these processes, including House Natural Resources Chair Westerman’s bill to amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to correct its flaws that often lead to protracted timelines, increased costs, and litigation. NEPA was designed to permit projects in a responsible way, not stop them entirely.

Our vision for the future is clear: affordable, reliable, and clean energy. Achieving this requires harnessing the energy potential of our federal lands, and Utahns are ready to lead the way. As we celebrate National Clean Energy Week, it’s time for the federal government to step aside and let us get to work.