CONTRIBUTOR'S VIEW - L. Michelle More: A Windshield Tour of Energy, Jo...

L. Michelle Moore recounts a road trip from LaGrange, Georgia, to Washington D.C., observing various energy-related economic developments and challenges. In Atlanta, four churches are collaborating on a pre-employment training program for energy sector jobs. Conversely, North Georgia saw nearly 1,000 layoffs from SK Battery America in Commerce due to federal policy changes impacting the "Battery Belt" in the Southeast, with South Carolina also losing a significant battery manufacturing facility. Further north, in North Carolina, the federal government paid a French company $1 billion to cancel a large offshore wind project, a decision Moore views as a significant loss amidst an "energy and affordability crisis." Upon arriving in Washington D.C., Moore found Congress addressing both energy affordability through the "Energy Bills Relief Act" and measures to accelerate data center development. Notably, the "Protect American AI Act of 2026" aims to restrict local communities' ability to use litigation and federal permitting processes to oppose new data center construction. Moore concludes with a reflection on persistent energy challenges like rising fuel prices and job losses, balanced by "bright spots" like local utility jobs and community initiatives, offering a hopeful outlook despite the broader headwinds.