There’s a path to American energy abundance that both parties can agree on

As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cnn.com_2026_06_17_politics_cnn-2Dpoll-2Dgender-2Drace-2Dviews-2Dculture-2Dwar&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=NElvXU48Ekuu4nM6BHTVn1kD3eDdw9UAgusoe30CCjQ&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">recent polls remind us of how divided this country remains.

And yet, despite harsh the numbers, it’s not as divided as polls portray.

Americans across the political spectrum are finding unexpected common ground.

For example, health is becoming a powerful force reshaping traditional political alliances, with bipartisan movements to ban food additives and https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__pirg.org_updates_bipartisan-2Dhouse-2Deffort-2Dstrips-2Dharmful-2Dpesticide-2Dlanguage-2Dfrom-2Dthe-2Dfarm-2Dbill_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=tuesrIQRb0025vbhx5JaRDOAh5U5eTsvkqN9CnEtBdM&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pesticides, expand care for veterans’ https://www.gallego.senate.gov/news/press-releases/gallego-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-veterans-health-administration-novel-therapeutics-preparedness-act/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">mental health, and prevent social media https://www.reuters.com/world/us-house-committee-reaches-bipartisan-agreement-youth-social-media-rules-2026-06-22/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">harms.

This is a good thing, and we need more of it.

Now the same may be true for energy.

Energy is witnessing a similar bipartisan consensus building.

And that’s not because Republicans and Democrats suddenly agree on climate change, though a https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nytimes.com_2026_06_18_climate_the-2Dshifting-2Dpolitics-2Dof-2Dclimate-2Dchange.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=fv4gMm5gNgGwjvovAgrLjge5M0owCwBP7GFUXD8obLE&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">new poll shows Republicans may be more movable than previously thought.

Nor have long-standing disagreements—over fossil fuels, renewables, and regulation—faded.

What is changing is more practical than ideological, since America’s prosperity depends on building enough reliable, affordable, and clean energy to power the technologies and communities of the future.

How that’s done (or not done) is what’s becoming more bipartisan.

The rise of https://www.fastcompany.com/section/artificial-intelligence" title="AI">artificial intelligence, a resurgence in domestic manufacturing, and increasing electricity demand are creating unusual allies across political parties and providing new fertile ground for the energy partnerships of the future.

Data centers are reshaping how energy impacts are understood

Both parties are bucking the continued growth of data center development.

While the last https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.eia.gov_todayinenergy_detail.php-3Fid-3D65264&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=Nr_0CBg2OFtUyrQnOGIq4nNk0SKFS_T2q2Qy7BJJ8qk&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">decade of power demand in the U.S. remained relatively stable, new demand is expected to grow https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.utilitydive.com_news_us-2Delectricity-2Ddemand-2Dto-2Dgrow-2D25-2Dannually-2Dthru-2D2035-2Dbofa-2Dinstitute_753911_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=lKvsdp8AASWMI6aJvYwQH_89b1uqcNleCJL--PGX1Eo&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">2.5% annually over the next decade.

That’s a lot of energy.

Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing are driving this electricity demand, forcing utilities, regulators, and policymakers to rethink how supply keeps up.

Since these data centers are sited in communities of all shapes and sizes—rural and urban, majority Republican and majority Democrat—along with their energy, water, and noise impacts, there’s new awareness among Americans as to what electricity demand can do to a community.

That impact awareness is what inspired Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina to introduce https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.politico.com_news_2026_05_19_nancy-2Dmace-2Ddata-2Dcenter-2Dmoratorium-2D00927781&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=WxFnVYAS0WKwEgDScNJc10Xfl2Qm1RJX2V2fB8FTm44&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">legislation calling for a moratorium on data center development, following in the footsteps of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.sanders.senate.gov_press-2Dreleases_news-2Dsanders-2Docasio-2Dcortez-2Dannounce-2Dai-2Ddata-2Dcenter-2Dmoratorium-2Dact_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=A-RsjPyol4LP-t2qTpCswohFqWF1kcgy-8oTNtVQTwA&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">introduced a similar moratorium bill earlier this year.

The bipartisan pushback isn’t just felt in Washington, D.C. Conservatives are planning a https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.axios.com_2026_06_18_conservatives-2Dprotest-2Dai-2Ddata-2Dcenters&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=lDn_6yQlHJe86qusCRpe7S9DVY0tExTed_NaWICEF_8&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">national day of protest against data center development; https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ncsl.org_fiscal_which-2Dstates-2Dare-2Dbanning-2Ddata-2Dcenters&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=8Mvl-xkaCWsOuESQX2EyZg_7InrLYC4gFRijAOJ0M6Y&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">15 states, both blue and red, are considering banning data centers; and Democrat-leaning cities like https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/03/california-monterey-park-datacenters-ban" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Monterey Park, California, in the West and https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/05/12/baltimore-city-council-passes-one-year-data-center-moratorium/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Baltimore in the East have already introduced bans or moratoriums.

This bipartisan mobilization is ultimately a good thing.

Communities should be informed and activated when it comes to local electricity and water demands.

And this bipartisan pushback has led to new thinking—like the aptly titled https://www.newsweek.com/a-bipartisan-roadmap-for-cleaning-up-the-cloud-opinion-11215747" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Clean Cloud Act in Congress—about the impacts of our energy footprint, and state legislatures are busy queuing up similar measures to manage local https://www.multistate.us/insider/2026/3/3/state-data-center-water-usage-legislation-gains-momentum" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">water use.

This is exactly how involved Americans should be when it comes to energy supply and demand, and it provides fertile ground for future bipartisan work to ensure data centers are built responsibly.

Geothermal is another area where lines are blurring

Geothermal is also having a very bipartisan moment in Washington.

The normally politically divided House of Representatives, for example, recently supported Ocasio-Cortez’s https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-ocasio-cortezs-bill-scale-development-geothermal-energy-projects" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, to scale up geothermal energy projects.

Timed as a response to high energy prices across the U.S., this legislation was a no-brainer for both parties.

Geothermal energy offers 24/7 power, utilizes existing drilling expertise, creates skilled jobs, and reduces exposure to volatile global fuel markets.

That’s a win-win-win-win for any party.

That’s why the U.S. is now leading the world in installed geothermal capacity, with just over 4 gigawatts of power.

Another https://www.nlr.gov/geothermal/2025-us-geothermal-market-report#power-generation" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">1.16 gigawatts of new, next-generation projects are slated to come online by 2028.

Even President Donald Trump likes geothermal, and his administration has promised https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/trump-administrations-policies-support-rapid-growth-geothermal-power-united-states-12-gw" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rapid growth of this clean energy source.

As geothermal grows exponentially in the U.S., it’s being framed, in a straightforward way, as dependable power that can be built domestically.

That’s a win for both Republicans and Democrats, which is why both parties are getting behind it.

And this bodes well for future energy work together.

Permitting reform is becoming a point of convergence

Permitting reform is having a bipartisan moment, too.

There’s a new effort in the U.S. Senate—led by Republican Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada—to limit the president’s ability to cancel energy projects.

It’s called the Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets Act, or https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.eenews.net_articles_bipartisan-2Dsenate-2Dduo-2Dlooks-2Dto-2Dstop-2Dpresidential-2Dattacks-2Don-2Denergy-2Dprojects_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=J9HSSRAJi8EE2D3Jxu_aMJ6X_8BqA8HZf1qHrHXG6Yw&m=GWFGJtVVLUfjH2LYddHnlQdQv9lNql6Oc1H2Ulbx4afvcc3Hb2dnWH0OcqmAeCXb&s=wT1qsbRxzY7NZ0UxGYOqLcXj0mV829Yv2XvWuBolxKs&e=" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">FREEDOM Act, and it would prevent Trump, for example, from repeatedly attacking, canceling, and defunding solar and wind projects.

Without question, the bipartisan effort is meeting a need.

Transmission lines, energy projects, manufacturing facilities, and even solar and wind infrastructure often spend years moving through permitting processes, legal challenges, and regulatory uncertainty.

That delay has become a bottleneck not just for energy development, but for economic growth more broadly.

And that concern is increasingly shared across political lines as bipartisan efforts in Congress make clear.

Now supporters of clean energy deployment and advocates of domestic energy production are coming together to say that once projects meet legal and environmental requirements, the path forward should be clearer and more predictable.

We couldn’t agree more.

These three shifts above point to something larger.

Energy conversations are slowly moving toward something more pragmatic: how to help the U.S. build the energy system it needs to keep up with demand, all while doing so more sustainably.

That shift doesn’t erase disagreement.

The mix of energy sources, the role of regulation, and the pace of change will remain contested.

But it does suggest something important: that agreement is forming.