Kevin D. Williamson writes about the importance of nuclear power in USA Today. “Nuclear power is not going to replace diesel, gasoline, or bunker fuel in the foreseeable future, and so it is not going to eliminate the pollution or the greenhouse-gas emissions related to transportation, which is a big piece of the climate picture....

"We should stop pretending that domestic mining is unessential. The best way to keep the competition for minerals from erupting into a conflict with China is for the U.S. to do what has served it so well for over a century: to offer a viable alternative to imports based on increased domestic mining. Congress should approve without delay a bill that would streamline the permitting process."

"Ultimately large-scale global emission reductions will require new innovative technologies that deliver reliable, resilient, and cleaner affordable energy. Here too, America is poised to lead. Federal policies must prioritize fostering innovation and commercialization of affordable clean energy technologies that can both bolster the momentum of emissions reductions at home and be exported to help reduce emissions globally."

"Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and state lawmakers are pitching a plan to mandate new natural gas generation to avoid future power crises in Texas. Patrick — who presides over the state Senate — suggested economic incentives for gas-fueled plants at the expense of wind and solar, similar to an unsuccessful bill he backed last year."

"The annual must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, amends the Jones Act waiver process to require the request be made public, establishes a 48 hour holding period after publication, prohibits any ship with goods on waterways from obtaining the waiver and requires a presidential determination that the waiver is needed for national defense."

"But experts say the United States needs to radically expand transmission lines — now spanning 700,000 miles across the country — to accelerate the energy transition. Scientists estimate that transmission will have to increase 25 percent over the course of the decade to meet U.S. climate goals."