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Redefining “Clean” Before Bureaucrats Redefine It Again
At the heart of Balderson’s proposal is a battle over three words that have shaped trillions in federal energy policy.
Affordable. Reliable. Clean.
For years, federal agencies have interpreted those words through an ideological lens. Balderson’s bill would codify them in statute so that future administrations cannot twist their meaning.
Under the legislation:
Reliable energy means baseload power available 24 hours a day, seven days a week — not intermittent output dependent on weather patterns.
Clean energy would formally include nuclear power and natural gas — sources that provide constant electricity while dramatically lowering carbon emissions compared to coal.
That definition alone could reshape federal rulemaking.
“The American people saw firsthand under the last administration how regulations could be weaponized to target certain groups and industries,” Balderson said.
His legislation would require federal agencies to conduct a sweeping review within 90 days of every energy action currently on the books. Within 180 days, agencies would be required to correct policies that conflict with the newly defined standards.
In other words, no more vague language used as a weapon.
Why Natural Gas Is Front and Center
While Democrats spent years subsidizing wind and solar projects, Balderson argues they ignored what has actually reduced U.S. emissions the most.
Natural gas.
The United States achieved significant emissions reductions by transitioning from coal to natural gas — not by relying solely on wind turbines and solar panels imported from China.
Meanwhile, technology giants like Google and Microsoft continue demanding dependable clean power to run massive AI data centers. Natural gas provides steady output around the clock.
Balderson also chairs the House Energy Action Team and serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He has had a front-row seat to what Republicans describe as regulatory overreach under the previous administration.
His bill seeks to end the policy whiplash that has plagued the industry.
Energy companies have watched rules flip repeatedly depending on who occupies the White House. Investment plans shift. Projects stall. Jobs disappear.
Balderson wants stability.
Fixing the Grid Before Demand Explodes
The proposal also tackles the backlog strangling America’s power grid.
Energy projects often sit trapped in interconnection queues for six to eight years before receiving approval to connect to the grid. During that time, electricity demand keeps climbing.
Through what is known as the Grid Power Act component, projects that fail to move forward within one year after securing financing and planning approval would lose their place in line.
The goal is to prevent speculative bottlenecks and accelerate serious builds.
“There are renewable projects in that interconnection queue that need to get moving forward also,” Balderson pointed out.
That remark undercuts Democrat claims that Republicans aim to eliminate renewable energy entirely. The focus, Balderson says, is on efficiency and accountability.
Cutting Off Endless Lawsuits
The legislative push does not stop at regulatory definitions.
Balderson is also backing the CLEAR Act — Curtailing Litigation Excess and Abuse Reform — with a Senate companion measure carried by Tom Cotton.
Infrastructure and pipeline projects routinely face waves of litigation that delay construction for years.
“We’re trying to eliminate all these frivolous lawsuits that happen with these projects,” Balderson explained.
Supporters argue that activist groups exploit the legal system to stall energy development indefinitely, even after environmental reviews are completed.
The CLEAR Act aims to curb that cycle.
Locking It Into Law — Not Just Executive Orders
President Trump has already taken aggressive executive action.
The Department of Energy recently issued 19 emergency orders to prevent power plant closures that critics say would have increased blackout risks.
But executive orders are temporary.
Statutory law is not.
Balderson’s legislation would require congressional action to reverse. That creates a far higher barrier than administrative rule changes.
Electricity prices have continued climbing in 2026, rising again this year according to federal data. States that resist expanded domestic energy production continue to see elevated costs compared to energy-producing regions.
Nuclear power is once again gaining bipartisan attention. Natural gas remains abundant. Oil output has surged.
Republicans argue the foundation is there — but it must be protected from political swings.
“The Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act aims to restore common sense to American energy policy,” Balderson said.
For families staring at another utility bill, that promise may carry more weight than any partisan talking point.
The battle over America’s energy future is not just about climate targets or campaign slogans.
It is about whether the lights stay on — and whether Americans can afford to keep them that way.
