Op-Ed: A Smarter Path to Energy Independence

Op-Ed By Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02)

When Russia wages war, they don’t just do so with tanks and missiles, they target Ukraine’s power grid to paralyze infrastructure and weaken resolve. Here at home, China is probing our own energy systems—using state-sponsored cyberattacks to access U.S. power, water, and telecommunications networks. This isn’t speculation. It’s happening now, and the implications are clear: access to reliable energy is no longer just an economic issue—it’s a national security requirement.

In Virginia’s Second District, that threat feels especially urgent. We’re home to the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base at Naval Air Station Oceana, one of the most advanced aviation hubs in the world. We power the largest naval base on the planet in Norfolk. Our region supports shipbuilders, defense manufacturers, and the growing technology sector that equips our armed forces with the tools they need to win.

And all of it depends on a reliable energy grid.

A fighter jet can’t fly without a ready flight line. A shipyard can’t build or repair destroyers without steady power. Command and control networks can’t operate without secure, resilient energy behind them. The global positioning system that allows our entire military and civilian populations to navigate safely at home and abroad would be reduced to a pile of worthless electronics without the consistent energy needed to power its hub in Colorado Springs. This is why I’ve focused my time in Congress on strengthening our domestic power production capability—not just for the economy, but for the mission.

Despite the occasional concerning news report, we are making progress. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Project off the coast of Virginia Beach is one example of a public-private partnership that’s finally delivering long-overdue grid upgrades, in this case for the Navy. The CVOW Project is helping ensure Naval Air Station Oceana and nearby communities have the power they need to grow and operate, as well as the updated grid to deliver that power safely and securely. The Navy couldn’t do it because of the inadequate defense budget. Energy innovation will make these base grid upgrades possible.

We can’t let bureaucratic red tape or unreasonably long timelines put this kind of progress at risk.

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee marked up its portion of the larger House reconciliation bill, which includes significant changes to the existing clean energy tax credit regime established in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). While the IRA contained several harmful provisions that led to House Republicans wholly opposing its passage, the energy tax credits included in the bill have led to a significant increase in domestic manufacturing and energy production across the country, including in my district. We must be thoughtful about our energy transition and approach reforms with a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. That’s why I joined 13 of my Republican colleagues in calling for several straightforward, commonsense adjustments to the Ways and Means portion of the reconciliation bill.

Our statement calls for amending the text to use a “start construction” rather than an “in service” requirement for tax credit eligibility, revise overly rigid restrictions on foreign sourcing to give American businesses time to onshore their supply chains, and ensure tax credit transferability remains in place to keep projects financially viable. These small but impactful changes are necessary not only to ensure American energy dominance, but to maintain our innovative technology leadership over China.

I recently introduced the Certainty for Our Energy Future Act as a reasonable framework to amend the current tax credit regime. The bill responsibly phases out certain subsidies, ensures foreign adversaries like China and Russia can’t exploit American tax benefits, and creates a realistic path forward  for domestic energy dominance—while still giving our businesses room to responsibly invest and safely innovate.

Our adversaries understand that energy security is national security, and so must we here in Congress. In order to protect our people, power our economy, and support our military, we must prioritize all forms of domestic energy production as if our national security is at stake—because it is.

I’m committed to making sure Virginians—and all Americans—not only have access to affordable, reliable energy, but that our military, shipyards, and defense communities have the resilient power they need to stay mission-ready. This isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about keeping our country strong. America depends on it.

By:

Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02)

Member of Congress