Like many conservatives, I have a long list of issues I want Congress to address, but few are more urgent to me than the need to combat climate change.
For some, my passion for this topic will come as a surprise. Often, the most vociferous voices on climate change are left-of-center, and there is a common falsehood that conservatives do not care about climate. That is simply not true, and we must address this misconception.
As Utah’s Representative John Curtis said in an interview recently, “Republicans for too long have told everyone what we don’t like. Now it’s important for us to articulate what we do like.”
Curtis is correct that climate-concerned conservatives must be vocal about the common-sense solutions we know can cut emissions and boost clean domestic energy. Otherwise, how do we ensure that policies that avoid big government overreach and make the U.S. economically competitive are brought to the table?
In years past, some members of Congress here in Arkansas have been vocally positive about their perspectives on climate. For example, Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02) has explained that climate change is real, but that more economically conservative solutions must be put in place to solve it.
Like many Americans, I have observed the growing frequency of extreme weather incidents. Such events reached $115 billion in insured losses in 2022. Those costs are deeply concerning for anyone who values fiscal responsibility. Arkansas is no exception. Severe droughts, floods, winter storms, tropical storms and strong tornadoes bombard our state’s citizens, their homes and their livelihoods. Arkansas farms and crops, as well as outdoor sport and recreation opportunities, have suffered major blows at the hands of climate change.
As a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, I have been motivated by my conservative values to advocate for less pollution and a stable climate. I was raised to respect and protect our natural resources, and I feel a duty to leave the earth better than we found it for future generations. When I do what I can to leave a neighborhood or a community better than I found it, I’m caring for God’s creation, taking responsibility for my community as an empowered individual, honoring the hard work and sacrifice of our ancestors, and living out my conservative values.
Our modern lives wouldn’t be possible without fossil fuels, and we can be grateful for that. But with cleaner energy options that do not add to carbon pollution and alter our climate, it’s time to transition in a way that powers America forward rather than dragging it backward.
Conservatives can lead this shift with free-market solutions that boost the economy and bring good-paying clean energy jobs to Arkansas. A well-executed clean energy transition can strengthen American manufacturing as the continued build-out of renewables attract billions of dollars to red states.
We’ve seen this in the past. In March of 2019, Arkansas’s legislators overwhelmingly and bi-partisanly passed the Arkansas Solar Access Act. This law vastly expanded solar opportunities for individual property owners in Arkansas, as well as commercial businesses. This law created new job opportunities for individuals without requiring a higher educational degree. These jobs can’t be moved out of state, because you obviously cannot export the sun.
Another example is the success of Nuclear One in Russellville. This nuclear power plant put Russellville on the map and helped our state retain some of the brightest engineers in the country. These are just a few of the many examples of the incredible benefits that clean energy has given to our state.
Clean domestic energy is also crucial for national security. The U.S. and our allies are better off when we can’t be bullied by oil countries with a stranglehold over global energy prices. Boosting and strengthening our domestic output is good for local prices and global stability.
Likewise, our nation’s farmers should be protected from the disruption of climate change-exacerbated drought, floods and storms. Let’s support farmers with solutions that improve, protect and restore the soil that nourishes America.
Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, as well as Representatives French Hill, Rick Crawford, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack, can do a lot to ensure conservative climate solutions work for Arkansas, but it is our job to let them know it is a constituent priority.
It is my hope that fellow conservatives will also be moved to take action. Together, we can ensure that the energy we use to power our economy results in a healthier, cleaner, safer America.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan grassroots organization that welcomes Republicans and those who identify as right of center to work toward climate change solutions with their members of Congress.