Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words Pennsylvania’s Policy Battles: Energy Independence, School Choice, and America 250 | Andrew Lewis
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Mar 5, 2026 Andrew Lewis, Iraq War veteran and president of the Commonwealth Foundation focused on free-market policy. He discusses Pennsylvania’s energy boom from Marcellus and Utica shale and the risks of aggressive renewable mandates. He explains how state think tanks turn ideas into law and outlines priorities: school choice, tax and regulatory reform, and union changes. He frames America 250 as a civic renewal moment.
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Pennsylvania's Outsize Policy Influence
- Pennsylvania's policy influence stems from its historical centrality and current status as the largest swing state with major energy and electoral leverage.
- Commonwealth Foundation converts free-market ideas into laws, stopping 11 tax hikes and creating 100,000+ scholarships since 1987.
Shale Turned Pennsylvania Into An Energy Exporter
- Pennsylvania sits atop Marcellus and Utica shale with enough natural gas to power the U.S. grid for decades and is now the nation's top electricity exporter.
- That geology attracted data centers and a $90+ billion investment tied to tech and AI because of cheap, abundant energy.
Protect Grid Reliability With Fuel Diversity
- Preserve a diverse, reliable energy mix including natural gas, coal, and nuclear to avoid grid failures and high consumer costs.
- Use Pennsylvania's export position to shape national debate against mandates that force excessive intermittent renewables.