We have seen the incredible economic and geopolitical advantages that oil and gas activity is bringing to the United States.

Under the previous Administration, the national debt doubled in 10 years.

Now is the time for Congress to address our out of control mandatory spending.

The economy is strong. The federal deficit continues to grow at an unsustainable rate.

Mandatory spending is the primary driver of our deficit.

But I think the decision was a policy one based on the desire not to have nuclear in California.

Yes, typically, the way that works is that you go to the Commission with a project. They approve it and they approve the rates that you would need to collect to recover it, yes.

We believe that Congress can help reduce the wildfire threat and increase overall grid and climate resilience.

I think the states have to take their part in the forest management pieces of state lands.

The most important technology in the short term is materials that keep our conductors from sparking.

Absolutely, I do. We used to think about reliability all the time. I think now it is time to think about reliability and resilience as discrete things.

we have supported the California policy, which is to work out of using gas as a fossil fuel into the future; we have supported it in several instances where it made sense in new construction to ban gas.

Anything that we can do to use energy smarter, more resiliently, to use less of it, because it is a precious resource.

So, I think investment in those National Labs is a great idea in this space.

We have been largely spared in Ohio from the devastation of wildfires, and I do share my colleagues' concern that something has to be done.

Typically, you don't ever get what you ask for and you negotiate a solution over that period of time.

The essential problem for fire and electric equipment is a piece of vegetation hits the line. There is a spark. It causes a fire.

What role do you see energy storage and microgrids playing in making communities more resilient, reducing the amount of people affected by the PSPS program, and reducing the overall need for more transmission infrastructure?

Oh, no. No, it is a year later.

California is an interesting place here. It is one percent of global emissions.

I believe in American ingenuity. And that's why we are here today.

I want to thank both committee chairs for holding this hearing today.

Economywide, affordable, and driving innovation.

Obviously, we are here to focus on the devastating effects of wildfires, but I think it is also a good opportunity to talk about the larger threat of climate change and the challenges it presents.

I happen to believe, especially after our conversation today; it is more complicated than that.