Gov. Noem Joins Governors’ Coalition for Energy Choice
PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem is one of the founding members of the Governor’s Coalition for Energy Choice (Coalition). The Coalition will help state leaders formulate smart energy policies that will benefit working families, businesses, and our communities.
“We believe in an all-of-the-above approach to unleash American energy and drive down costs for families across our great country,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “South Dakota is the number one state in America for production of renewable energy, not because we mandate it, but because we trust our energy producers to create the most energy for South Dakotans at the lowest cost. The entire nation should take that same approach.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 77% of South Dakota’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources, primarily wind and hydropower. South Dakota is also an ideal place for emerging energy production such as next-gen nuclear capabilities and other technologies.
Gas prices are up 51.3% since January 2021, and electricity prices are up 30.1% over the same timeframe.
The Coalition will ensure continued energy choice, minimize permitting and other regulatory barriers, limit expensive energy mandates, focus on affordability and reliability of energy infrastructure, and coordinate to positively manage energy resources and the environment.
Governor Noem was joined in launching the coalition by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
You can find Governor Landry’s announcement of the coalition here.
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Who really cares when it comes to the big picture?
The governor is very irresponsible and naive when she states: “we trust our energy producers to create the most energy for South Dakotans at the lowest cost”. Energy companies are monopolies that are to be overseen by the government not trusted. Wind and solar energy generation is very undependable and therefore we need 100% backup carbon generation to replace it when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine. That is expensive. And now she is calling for nuclear generation in SD. This is again the making of SD the garbage dump of USA.
Except nuclear power produces less background radiation than coal plants. South Korea, and France have used nuke power for the bulk of their energy production with no downsides. Modern nuke plants also generate far less waste than old designs, and thanks to breeder reactor advances, should be able to recycle old spend fuel rods into functioning rods again.
you did not mention Japan, Russia, and US (3 mile island) catastrophic failures. Gas and coal are plentiful and cheap with good environmentally safe methods to use them.
That’s like complaining about advancing plane technology by pointing out the hindenburg disaster. Nuclear has evolved a lot in 50 years and it’s far safer and cleaner energy than any other options.
3 mile wasn’t a catastrophic failure. If anything, it was proof that US designs and procedures could prevent a runaway reaction, it’s just that the press was/is scientifically illiterate and couldn’t appreciate the true magnitude of what happened. Japan was the result of a tsunami, not the reactor itself or something that could happen here for obvious reasons, and Chernobyl was what it was because of Russian incompetence. Three swings, three misses.