Texas Veterans Oppose SB 819: Let Us Continue to Build the Future
Texas has long been a beacon of economic opportunity and energy leadership. We built the "Texas Miracle" on the principles of free markets, private property rights, and an open-for-business attitude that welcomes innovation and investment. Senate Bill 819 threatens to undermine that legacy. As military veterans now working in clean energy, we oppose this bill because it betrays the very values that made Texas strong—freedom, competition, and economic growth.
Tell your Elected Officials you Oppose SB819
Our state is home to both the oil and gas capital of the world and a leader in renewable energy generation, with wind and solar consistently providing over 30% of our power. That isn’t a contradiction; it’s a testament to Texas’ commitment to an “all-of-the-above” energy approach that strengthens our energy dominance. Veterans understand that energy security is national security, and true energy dominance means producing as much American energy as possible—oil, gas, wind, solar, geothermal, nuclear, and beyond. The more diverse and resilient our energy mix, the stronger our state and country become.
SB 819 is bad for Texas. It increases electricity costs, restricts private property rights, and stifles the free market. At a time when ERCOT predicts our power needs will nearly double, this bill would make our grid less reliable by discouraging new energy projects and innovation. It would eliminate thousands of high-paying jobs, many of which are currently filled by veterans.
Veterans make up 10% of the clean energy workforce—twice the rate of the general workforce. These careers provide us with an opportunity to continue serving our country, just in a different uniform. They allow us to apply our leadership, discipline, and technical skills to an industry that strengthens Texas’ energy dominance. SB 819 would strip away those opportunities, limiting job growth and cutting off an industry that has provided economic mobility for veterans and working-class Texans alike.
Texas has never been about government overreach. Yet, SB 819 expands bureaucratic control by giving state agencies the power to dictate how private landowners use their property. It singles out clean energy for unnecessary regulation, despite the fact that wind and solar projects use no water, emit no greenhouse gases, and are already subject to rigorous decommissioning standards. No other energy source is being targeted this way. That’s not conservative governance—it’s big government picking winners and losers.
If SB 819 passes, rural Texas will be hit the hardest. Over 75% of Texas counties benefit from tax revenue generated by renewable energy projects. That revenue funds local schools, roads, and emergency services—without raising taxes on hardworking Texans. By discouraging private investment in clean energy, this bill threatens to take away critical funding streams that help rural communities thrive.
Texans believe in competition, economic growth, and Energy Dominance—SB 819 undermines all three. It’s not about oil and gas versus renewables—it’s about ensuring that Texas remains the energy powerhouse of America, leading in every sector, not shutting down opportunities.
As veterans, we swore an oath to protect this country. Today, that means standing up for policies that strengthen Texas, create jobs, and secure our energy future. Texas is strongest when we embrace every opportunity, not when we regulate them out of existence. We urge lawmakers to reject SB819 and let veterans continue to serve—this time, by powering the future of Texas.
Tell your Elected Officials you Oppose SB819
Kevin Doffing is the CEO of Project Vanguard, an organization that advocates for veterans in the clean energy economy. He served in the US Army and was deployed as an infantry officer in Iraq.