By leading on energy, Texas can make sure American dream remains real | Opinion

There’s a palpable sense across the state and country that we’re entering a new era, with much change driven by technology. Americans see artificial intelligence transforming how we work, shop and attempt to stay organized. Self-driving cars steadily increasing on the roads provide a constant reminder — and they may soon be joined by driverless semi-trucks.

Any time of change offers significant opportunities. The key is to harness them. As former Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush recently wrote, government leaders can do this by using technologies like AI to bolster energy security and fuel jobs of the future. He’s right.

This same opportunity applies to everyone across the public and private sectors. Together, we can achieve Energy 2.0 — an era of plentiful energy with net-zero carbon emissions. This will be the largest economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution. Getting there is like running a marathon. The goal is far off, but attainable.

To move forward, we must focus on infrastructure and workforce development. On both, Texas will lead America and the world.

Global energy demand keeps reaching new heights, and the rise is expected to continue in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency. The growth of AI and cloud computing are among the factors increasing demand.

Energy production has outpaced consumption in the United States, so supplies have been plentiful. That’s due largely to Texas, which provides about a quarter of energy production. While most comes from fossil fuels, our state is also “first in the nation in wind-generated electricity” and “among the leading states in solar energy potential and generation,” the Energy Department notes.

Texas built Energy 1.0 with many “first-of-a-kind” technologies. But keeping up with demand requires new investments in all forms of energy, including geothermal, nuclear, hydro and more. This requires new infrastructure, which is also needed to power the modern grid and to build resilience hubs and smart cities.

All of this work requires the most critical natural resource: people. We need “human capital” — workers with the skills, talent and grit to develop solutions. Training and development programs are essential.

And we need to draw people to the field of energy. We must show Americans that the sector offers the most promising careers, whether working for an energy giant, launching a climate-tech startup or joining public-sector energy programs.

At a time when so many people are driven by purpose, we must use new AI-powered technologies to help match people to jobs that speak to their own goals, hopes and dreams. The more we do this, the more their passion and drive will deliver results.

My years working to transform the energy sector have shown me that these changes can help more people accomplish the “American dream.” Defined as “a happy way of living” that any American can achieve “especially by working hard and becoming successful,” it has become elusive to millions. In a poll this year, barely half of respondents (53%) said the American dream is still possible; 41% said it once was, but not anymore.

I’m convinced that it is possible — and that energy will pave the way. We must build the infrastructure and talent pipeline to ensure energy is available, resilient and affordable for all. Energy organizations must open their doors to people with a wide array of life experiences and perspectives so they can be hired and contribute to the most important effort of our time.

Doing all this means setting aside partisan politics and working together. There is a vast “American middle” filled with people who are not firmly in any political camp and just want pragmatic solutions to pressing problems. The more we join together to build solutions, and insist that our leaders deliver, the more likely we’ll have an economy and society that helps people thrive.

My hope for 2025 is that we’ll harness the power of our collective minds to create a “one team” mentality in Texas and across the country. If we set clear goals and cheer each other on, we can run and finish this marathon together.