Energy and Environment

I am amazed at the many ways Texas produces energy - from oil to solar to wind - we are a leader in energy. But, our environment is paying a heavy price for some of our choices. A top concern for Texans, particularly younger Texans, is the environment.

All Texans understand that we have one home on this Earth and that there is no plan B. We need to base our energy production, infrastructure, and outcomes on what is best for the short term and the long term. We cannot abandon the oil and gas industry but we can transition to greener sources of energy that are both financially and environmentally smart.

Texas is beginning to transition to a diverse energy portfolio and this is the way forward. Transitioning is not a choice, it’s the next natural step. The world is no longer relying exclusively on oil, and we must adapt. In the same way, we invested in highways in the ’50s and ’60s we need to invest in the promotion of electric vehicles and green energy.

In addition, we need to find ways to protect our water, land, and air resources. We need to build a more sustainable way of producing energy that takes into account the extreme weather that Texas experiences.

We need to be able to adjust to the new weather conditions we face in the Lone Star State. We need to face these challenges head-on in the present, not after they occur. Climate change is inevitable, extreme weather is inevitable, so let's prepare by curtailing the excesses of unchecked climate change.