Protecting clean energy jobs now will benefit South Carolina’s future generations
Visitors to the Palmetto State quickly learn there are two things that South Carolinians value: our beautiful vistas from the Lowcountry to the Upstate — and the wonderful people that we get to share them with.
From a young age I knew this was true, although I didn’t have to go much further than Lake Murray to see it.
I’m immensely proud of my state, and it’s a pride that grows with each adventure further from the lake’s shores.
My sense of pride drives my civic involvement and political activism.
While I am less than a year away from graduating high school at River Bluff, I have already volunteered with more than 10 Republican Party campaigns.
This year I have committed my summer to carrying out SC GOP voter outreach, and I have done so because I know our conservative leaders are dedicating themselves to preserving our state’s best assets and building a prosperous economic future.
Clean energy
The need to understand the effects of our changing climate will become more pronounced in our adult lives — and my generation is eager to tackle pressing environmental issues.
Regardless of party, we are hungry for action that addresses this issue, while incentivizing 21st century infrastructure and innovation. And in South Carolina, we’re lucky to have great clean energy champions like U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott.
Gen Z Republicans are more likely than any previous generation to assign a change in climate to human rather than only natural causes. We are also more likely to support some government involvement in solutions, and millennial Republicans aren’t far behind us in sharing our concern.
According to a Pew Research Center study, nearly 8 out of 10 young Republicans born after Ronald Reagan became president in 1981 believe that the U.S. should prioritize developing alternative energy sources.
Lost jobs, opportunities
Before the coronavirus crisis, clean energy was one of the fastest growing employment sectors as evidenced by its 10 percent growth in less than five years.
At its pre-pandemic height, the clean energy workforce stood 3.3 million strong, easily eclipsing employment in other energy sectors.
But the industry was not immune to the effects of the national shutdown after COVID-19 arrived, and as of June more than half-million clean energy workers remained out of a job.
These losses are felt at home.: according to data South Carolina’s own clean energy workforce has contracted 14.2% — and lost more than 8,000 employees — since March. The combination of lost jobs and missed opportunities to improve our environment hits hard.
Support the workforce
What America needs is a plan that continues the nation’s leadership in reducing carbon emissions by getting clean energy workers back on the job.
Our leaders have taken unprecedented action in recent months to spur our economy and it’s only appropriate the same care be given to clean energy and its boundless potential.
Coming of age in a post-pandemic landscape is daunting, but I believe that our Republican leadership — and this state’s congressional delegation — are invested in promoting clean energy.
By supporting the clean energy workforce, our national leadership can both protect long-term job opportunities in a pioneering field and bolster jobs that will support the economy.
In doing so they’ll also send a powerful message to the next wave of voters that our voices are being heard.
At the end of the day protecting the clean energy workforce will protect what South Carolinians have always valued most: our great people and our extraordinary places.
Patton Byars is a senior at River Bluff High School in Lexington and serves as chairman of the South Carolina Teenage Republicans.
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Protecting clean energy jobs now will benefit South Carolina’s future generations."