Southern leaders defend federal investments critical for clean energy, conservation, and safety projects 

WASHINGTON — Southern business leaders and local officials held a briefing today titled “How Federal Investments Are Creating Economic Opportunity, Safety, Resilience, and Jobs in the South” to update congressional offices from across the country including Virgina, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maine and other states on the benefits of a range of federal energy and resilience investments. The briefing helped illuminate what is at stake in the freeze on federal funding that is disrupting critical and approved infrastructure, conservation, and health projects. 

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who made today’s briefing possible, has been a strong proponent of an all-of-the-above energy approach and has continued to advocate for the clean energy tax credits that increase domestic manufacturing and energy development and create jobs both in the South and nationwide.   

In the last month, Executive Orders and agency layoffs have dramatically altered the federal landscape, causing ripple effects throughout the economy. The slash and burn approach to governing is already having devastating impacts on lives and livelihoods. Now, congressional leaders are debating the details of budget cuts outlined in House and Senate budget resolutions.  

At the briefing, panelists discussed how investments in the South are enhancing American energy security and production; promoting economic and job growth; and boosting public safety. Since 2022, federal agencies have invested more than $20 billion in quality projects and programs across the South, catalyzing over $78 billion in private sector investments, and supporting nearly 500,000 clean energy jobs. Sustaining these projects and investments is critical for supporting job growth, enhancing economic competitiveness, and keeping costs down for localities and families.  

Panelists included: 

John Burns, General Council, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association 

James Marlow, President, Southface Institute 

Ben McFarlane, Chief Resilience Officer, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission 

Rick Dwyer, Executive Director, Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance 

“Renewable energy is a mature industry that employs tens of thousands of Americans and provides clean and affordable power to meet our growing energy needs,” said John D. Burns, General Counsel, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association. “Stability in law and regulation is needed now to ensure the investments we have made over the last several years continue to bear fruit for the ratepayers and industries that need the energy we generate.” 

“We are creating stronger and more resilient communities and increasing access to low- cost and non-polluting energy sources thanks to federal investments in Georgia. Increasing access to renewable energy sources is crucial to our national energy security,” said James Marlow, President of Southface Institute. “It is also vital that we continue to invest in utilities, co-ops, research institutes, and our technical workforce that allow us to build more sustainable, efficient homes, workplaces, and communities.”   

Military installations need to be hardened against the impacts of sea level rise, storm surge, and persistent flooding in order to defend the nation and project power and lethality overseas,” said Rick Dwyer, Executive Director, Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance. “Military installation resilience must include the surrounding communities given that over 70% of our military personnel live off base and critical services are provided from outside the fence line. Continued federal investment in resiliency efforts is critical to protecting our military installations and the country.”  

“Federal investments can tip the scales by incentivizing projects that might not get built at all or would be completed years later. These projects protect communities and make them more resilient,” said Ben McFarlane, Chief Resilience Officer, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. “Targeted federal investment enables communities to buy down risk sooner and more cost effectively than would otherwise be possible. Maintaining this funding is critical to making sure projects that are already underway get built.”  

“Federal investments have brought unprecedented growth to the Southeast and are funding high quality projects that are creating jobs, helping to sustain our natural resources and cut pollution from air, water, and energy systems,” said Southern Environmental Law Center’s Climate Initiative Leader Alys Campaigne. “Since January, we’ve begun to see cancellations and delays at clean energy factories and projects in our region. Southern CEOs and public safety officials are engaging with congressional leaders to stop this backsliding by defending critical federal investments necessary to keep the South safe, competitive, and strong.”