(Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Corner - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Over the last decade, I would venture to guess that Americans have heard more about energy policy than ever before. One party’s moonshot solution to climate contrasted with the other party’s appeal to traditional energy systems. The outcome is always the same: division, vitriol, and ultimately a tit-for-tat repeal of existing policy every few years that puts America back at square one.

Here’s the deal: policy has become too much of a cultural flashpoint than an actual solution to a problem. In the not-too-distant past, politics and policymaking were boring. It was a necessary task for civil society that didn’t receive much fanfare. Now, it seems that everyone has a pet issue, ideology, or, God forbid, a “favorite politician” that they are willing to go to the mat for.

But on the policy front, these ways of thinking do no good. The best policy is a boring one. One that is built on proven technology, implements steady regulation and supports infrastructure that makes little to no headlines. And this is especially true for the energy industry that relies on policy and regulatory consistency more than most.

To be clear, “boring” in this sense doesn’t mean slow or unambitious. A boring policy can still build a strong industry and support reliability. But incrementalism, redundancies and repetition are what make it happen. Many strong examples of this exist in the energy space, and especially in Appalachia. Rural electrification, infrastructure buildout, and the development of new industries top the list.

Here’s where America has gone wrong on energy policy in recent years. Both parties — yes, both of them — have pushed a narrative of constant shaming of one another and instituting bans on proposed solutions they deem irresponsible or unworkable. Meanwhile, the public has grown skeptical, not just of the ideas but also the process. Delays in policy implementation stall progress, causing projects to never materialize. By the time solutions pass the administrative and regulatory smell test, a newly elected political majority repeals the original policy. Sound familiar? Example: the Inflation Reduction Act.

So, what’s the solution? If every policy is a potential political football, is there a way to actually move forward? Enter: the boring policy framework. For energy policy, this might mean focusing less of discovering new silver bullets and more on effective and efficient deployment of proven technologies. Grid modernization, building electrification, increased energy efficiency and demand-response — all policy solutions that are proven to lower emissions, improve reliability and save ratepayers money.

The best part? Debates around these issues are a snoozefest for everyday Americans — and that’s the point. Boring policies attract little attention and bluster, making them durable and, when the results are displayed in plain English, hard to demonize.

The goal of policymaking should not be to get some political “win,” but to create lasting policy that benefits as many stakeholders as possible without creating a shift in everyday practices. For energy policy, that means a transition to cleaner solutions that are barely noticeable. And the outcome? Steadier energy bills, cleaner, quieter power plants, and, maybe the best part, less talk about politics.

If you want strong policy that lasts, stop trying to make it exciting and start making it inevitable.

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Griffin Bradley is a lifelong Wood County resident, graduate of West Virginia University, and a contributing author for Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action.