The administration’s decision to eliminate federal support for solar and wind energy is a step backward for America’s economic strength, energy independence and public health.

While the White House has labeled renewables “unreliable” and “foreign‑controlled,” the facts tell a different story. Solar and wind are now among the most affordable and rapidly growing sources of power in the country, creating jobs and reducing our dependence on volatile global fuel markets.

Here in Utah, we know exactly what’s at stake. Every winter, our valleys trap pollution under a lid of cold air, turning the Wasatch Front into one of the most polluted regions in the nation. Families, seniors and children breathe the consequences. Clean, renewable energy isn’t an abstract ideal for us — it’s a direct investment in clearer skies and healthier lungs.

Ending clean‑energy tax credits and halting major renewable projects doesn’t make America stronger. It weakens our competitiveness and prolongs the air‑quality problems that Utahns live with year after year. Communities across the state have embraced solar and wind because they lower costs, support local jobs, and help us breathe easier, not because of ideology.

We should be leading the world in energy innovation, not retreating from it. Utah’s future — and our ability to enjoy clean, breathable air — depends on embracing technologies that make us more resilient, more competitive, and more secure.

Edward Blake, Salt Lake City

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