Independence is not just an idea. For West Virginians, it is the lights staying on, businesses remaining open, hospitals operating without interruption, and families knowing the power will be there when they need it most.

Real independence, the kind that is lived every day and not just celebrated on July 4, depends on reliable electricity.

America turns 250 this year. It is a moment to reflect on what self-reliance requires in the 21st century. For West Virginia, one answer is clear: a stronger electric grid. We cannot claim energy independence or economic strength while relying on portions of a transmission system more than 50 years old. The grid that powers our homes, businesses, and industries must be modernized, and the work needs to begin now for energy security.

Every year we delay makes the challenge more expensive. Aging infrastructure does not repair itself. Demand continues to grow. Construction costs rise. If we fail to act, we are not solving the problem. We are simply passing a larger problem and a larger bill to our children and grandchildren.

The generations that came before us understood that independence requires investment. They did not secure the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today by postponing difficult decisions. They built the roads, railroads, and electric systems that connected communities and created prosperity. They accepted responsibility for the future rather than leaving it for someone else.

That same responsibility belongs to us.

Where companies invest, where jobs are created, and whether families have reliable and affordable power, depend on whether the grid can deliver. Strengthening that grid is one of the defining infrastructure challenges of our generation.  The demand for power is only going to grow.

West Virginia’s geography and climate make reliability more challenging than in many parts of the country. Our communities are spread across rugged terrain and served by infrastructure that, in some corridors, has not been meaningfully upgraded in decades. When severe weather strikes, like during the derecho in 2012, weaknesses in the transmission system are not merely inconveniences, they can threaten the safety, security, and economic well-being of entire communities.  I have seen this firsthand during my years in the National Guard. I remember the fear and grief of families who lost everything and worried about tomorrow.

The picture is no different for business. Every manufacturer considering a new facility, every data center evaluating locations, and every employer planning future growth asks the same question: Can the electric system deliver reliable power when and where it is needed?

Reliable electricity is not a preference. It is a prerequisite.

When West Virginia cannot answer that question convincingly, investment and jobs go elsewhere.

West Virginians have understood this connection before. The communities that fought for the National Road, expanded rail connections, and built rural electric cooperatives were doing more than pursuing economic development. They were investing in independence. They understood that communities connected to modern infrastructure create opportunity, while communities who were not connected were often left behind.

We face the same choice today.

A modern transmission network will strengthen reliability, support economic growth, attract investment, and help West Virginia compete for the jobs and industries of the future. It is how we build the foundation for greater economic independence in the 21st century.

As America marks its 250th anniversary, it is worth remembering that every generation inherits responsibilities as well as freedoms. Our predecessors built the infrastructure that powered their future. Modernizing the electric grid is one way we can do the same for ours.

This July 4, let’s commit to honor America the way West Virginians always have – by building it.