Don’t kill EKY’s golden goose: Why Republicans must rethink energy policy in red America | Opinion

In Appalachia, where coal once fueled American industry and prosperity, a new energy economy is appearing—one built not on ideology, but on pragmatism, resilience, and opportunity. This isn’t about erasing our legacy. It’s about expanding our toolbox with solar, hydro, bioenergy, nuclear microgrids, and more—so we can once again help power the nation.

I was born and raised in Pike County, and I’m a lifelong Republican and ardent supporter of President Trump. My conservatism is rooted in stewardship—the same tradition that guided leaders like Teddy Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and Barry Goldwater. They understood that conserving resources and securing American strength go hand-in-hand.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned by recent efforts in Washington to slash clean energy incentives. Some Republicans in Congress are pushing policies that would derail billions in private investment, crush emerging industries, and stall job creation—especially in the very rural communities they claim to champion. That’s not just bad policy—it betrays conservative values like self-reliance, stewardship, and national strength.

Let’s be honest: coal built this region. It powered our factories, won world wars, and provided good wages for generations. But today, fewer than 4,000 Kentuckians work in coal—down from over 18,000 in the 1990s. That decline doesn’t mean abandoning our energy identity. It means adapting it.

Take the Bell County pumped-storage hydro project. Built on a reclaimed mine, it will generate nearly 300 megawatts of dispatchable energy and create more than 1,500 construction jobs. It’s just one example of how we can turn our geography and history into tomorrow’s infrastructure.

Bioenergy is another frontier. By converting agricultural waste, logging debris, and municipal organics into renewable natural gas, sustainable aviation fuel, and clean hydrogen, we can create high-quality jobs without relying on foreign energy. Companies like Eureka Energy are planning such systems across the Ohio River Valley—revitalizing post-coal communities with 21st-century opportunity.

Here’s the irony: the clean energy boom is happening in red America. A 2024 Rhodium Group report found that 77% of post–Inflation Reduction Act energy investments have gone to Republican-led districts. In Appalachia alone, clean energy spending surged from $422 million in 2022 to nearly $7.4 billion in 2024. These projects aren’t abstract liberal dreams—they’re real jobs, real infrastructure, and real tax revenue in places long ignored by the national economy.

Yet, in April 2025, Environmental Entrepreneurs reported $4.5 billion in clean energy projects were canceled nationwide—over 10,000 jobs lost in a single quarter. The cause? Rising political uncertainty, driven by efforts from some Republicans in Congress to repeal the very policies fueling this progress.

That’s not conservative. That’s self-sabotage.

Real conservative energy policy means maximizing domestic resources, building secure supply chains, and reducing dependence on foreign adversaries. It means an all-of-the-above strategy that includes fossil fuels and renewables. Groups like the Clean Energy Network and the Heritage Foundation support nuclear, bioenergy, hydrogen, and carbon capture right alongside traditional fuels—for one reason: it strengthens America.

It also protects Kentucky families.

Our energy infrastructure is fragile. Centralized power and outdated transmission lines controlled by public utilities make us vulnerable to blackouts and price spikes. Local microgrids, battery storage, and hybrid generation—deployed at the county or city level—offer real resilience.

This isn’t a coastal fantasy. It’s local power, built on local values, serving local people.

Appalachia has what it takes: the feedstock, the land, the labor, and the legacy. What we need now is clear, consistent policy—from Frankfort to Washington—that signals we are open for clean energy business.

This moment demands leadership, not ideological posturing. Let’s create jobs, improve reliability, and reclaim our role in America’s energy future.

Let Appalachia rise again—stronger, smarter, and ready to lead.

A lifelong conservative Republican and ardent supporter of President Trump, Roger Ford is a national thought leader in energy development as national security. He holds a Master’s in National Security and leads Eureka Energy Corporation from his home in Pikeville, Kentucky.

This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 6:34 AM.