Putin’s war has created an international humanitarian crisis of epic proportions as millions of refugees have fled and thousands of innocent people have died. The last time a mass migration occurred in Europe nationalism grew exponentially — which created security threats that threatened democratic nations.

“As Mayor, I stand united with Ukraine, who is standing up for their democracy.  As an elected official and Marine veteran, I have a responsibility to keep our community safe and free of oppression. The bravery of all the elected officials and public servants in Ukraine should be applauded for their bravery to protect its democracy.,” said  Mayor Derrick R. Wood, Town of Dumfries, VA, Marine Veteran, EOPA National Leadership Council. “Because of the conflict in Ukraine and the current inflation we are experiencing in our nation, I want to offer my support to President Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase a clean energy transition.  As a nation, we could rely less on fossil fuels from abroad and open up ways in which we can use all energy options to reduce the burden the average citizen is facing as a result of inflation.”

The DPA authorizes the president to require businesses to accept and prioritize contracts for materials deemed necessary for national defense, and allows the president to designate materials to be prohibited from price gouging and hoarding. The DPA was recently used to ramp up production of needed essentials to combat COVID 19 and to fight wildfires caused by climate change. It was made the law of the land in 1950 to help during the Korean War and subsequently the Cold War.

The American oil industry has a long, documented history of working extremely closely with autocrat Putin and state-run Russian oil companies. Now, the industry is trying to leverage the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to push for more drilling domestically while raising gas prices and protecting their profits. They’ve even started to make the case that greater production at home will help combat Putin’s influence on the global stage. While U.S. LNG exports may help Europe in the short term, increasing U.S. production would deepen Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels and ours.

More about Derrick Wood

Derrick Wood is a father, husband, veteran, small business owner, and a community leader, who wants to help the Town of Dumfries be the best it can be. 

In the Marine Corps., Derrick learned commitment to our country, our communities, and our families. Derrick’s sense of duty and willingness to serve people, help him to bring people together and establish principles to accomplish the mission.

As a small business owner, Derrick understands the importance of watching every penny, sticking to a budget, and planning for the future. 

As a husband and father of three, Derrick and his family have lived in the Town of Dumfries for nearly 20 years.