When Russia wages war, it doesn’t just do so with tanks and missiles — it targets Ukraine’s power grid to paralyze infrastructure and weaken resolve. Here at home, China is probing our own energy systems, using state-sponsored cyberattacks to access U.S. power, water, and telecommunications networks. This isn’t speculation. It’s happening now, and the implications are clear: Access to reliable energy is no longer just an economic issue — it’s a national security requirement.

In Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, that threat feels especially urgent. We’re home to the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base at Naval Air Station Oceana, one of the most advanced aviation hubs in the world. We power the largest naval base on the planet in Norfolk. Our region supports shipbuilders, defense manufacturers, and the growing technology sector that equips our armed forces with the tools they need to win. And all of it depends on a reliable energy grid.