Part 4/16:
Zion underscores that restoring energy independence in the U.S. is vital. Yet, federal policies have complicated this task: tariffs on critical materials like copper, steel, and aluminum have raised costs, and federal agencies have become sluggish, compounding delays. State and local governments, often responsible for zoning and permitting, need to be proactive in building resilient, localized power sources to avoid dependence on a slow federal process.