Energy infrastructure is vital to the nation’s economy and the citizens’ way of life. It supplies the nation with the energy required to conduct its daily operations, from supplying needs for industrial manufacturing to heating homes, running computers and fueling cars. The country requires an efficient energy generation and delivery system to keep the economy functioning smoothly, yet the infrastructure is aging, stressed and underfunded. At the same time, demand for energy continues to grow. States play a vital role in regulating and stimulating the creation of infrastructure, as well as siting new energy infrastructure. State officials are therefore in a position to institute policies that mitigate the infrastructure deficit and ensure energy reliability.
