The Time Has Come for Energy Independence

As a veteran, I have seen firsthand the effects of America’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil. We are involved in two wars in a volatile region that just happens to have massive oil reserves. I personally served on the battle field during the war in Iraq. At a time when our country is sending more than $1 billion a day overseas to buy oil, we aren’t doing nearly enough to invest in clean energy sources here at home. Why?

In part, we’ve allowed “business as usual” to control our energy policies. Especially during the previous administration, Big Oil had too many seats at the table. Frankly speaking, those of us in elected office have been too timid to make long-term plans to secure our energy future. And finally, some people are trying to scare us into thinking that the challenge is too great or doesn’t exist.

My answer is that we can do it and it must be done. By investing in South Carolina’s “homegrown” energy sources, not only would we increase our national security, but we would create jobs for hardworking South Carolinians and the citizens who want to support their families by working hard and smart for their daily living. We must focus on creating jobs in South Carolina.

In many communities across South Carolina, people are suffering. Unemployment in my district is higher than the state average, and South Carolina has one of the highest rates in the nation. While the recent recession has made matters worse, times were tough before. For decades we’ve seen our manufacturing base leave the state for cheap labor overseas.

It is time for that to change. At a BioEnergy conference I attended this fall at the Clemson Pee Dee Research Center in Florence, I learned that South Carolina could create thousands of jobs in sustainable agriculture. At a renewable energy summit I attended last week in Greenville, I also learned that our state could create thousands more in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The people in my district are eager to work in the growing sectors of sustainable agriculture, energy conservation and clean energy. And unlike traditional manufacturing jobs, these jobs cannot be exported to China. These jobs are permanent because they are centered in our own energy sources.

The challenge is how to get there. In last year’s session, we took steps at the State House to improve our building codes and promote energy conservation in our public buildings. These measures are good for the building sector and will help lower the taxes we all pay to “keep the lights on” in our state government. In 2010, we need to do more.

We also need a national plan, and Sen. Lindsey Graham is leading the way. He supports an energy policy that would increase our national security by boosting our domestic energy sources, investing in energy efficiency and reducing carbon pollution.

Graham and I may come from different parties and different parts of the state, but we’ve both served in the military, and we both want to see our country become energy independent. It has been disappointing to see members of his own party attack Graham for his leadership. I have to ask myself, do his attackers understand that our addiction to foreign oil is a threat to our men and women in uniform? Or that the US military itself has called climate change a “top threat” to our national security?

Fortunately, Graham shows no signs of backing away from this fight. He understands that wherever you come down on the climate issue, the entire world is moving toward a clean energy economy. South Carolina can either be a part of this clean energy future or get left behind.

The people of my district do not want to be left behind. They have the determination and the skills to build the clean energy economy of tomorrow. When we understand that creating this future will increase our national security, we have only additional motive. We see that promoting energy independence and reducing carbon pollution is our patriotic duty as Americans. It’s time to put partisanship, and fear mongering, aside. It’s time to act.

Robert Q. Williams is a South Carolina State Representative and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran.