WASHINGTON, D.C. – One hundred and forty-one political leaders from across the country today joined The Empowerment Alliance (TEA) by signing the Declaration of Energy Independence.  Signers include eight U.S. senators, nine U.S. representatives, three governors, 15 state attorneys general, more than 50 local state officials and more than 20 candidates running for positions at the national and state levels.  A full list of signers can be viewed here.

“American energy producers have ushered in an energy renaissance and made the United States the number one producer of oil and gas in the world,” said Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).“Maintaining our energy dominance is key to ensuring American families have access to affordable energy and it’s imperative for our national security. In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become even more important to support America’s energy producers to spur economic growth, lower energy costs, help employ thousands of hardworking men and women, and increase America’s energy independence. In the Senate, I am committed to standing with American energy producers and continuing our energy renaissance.”

“America is in the midst of an energy revolution,” said Governor Pete Ricketts (R-NE). “I applaud the Empowerment Alliance for its efforts to educate Americans about the economic, national security, and environmental benefits of natural gas and am proud to stand up for efforts to continue America’s energy independence.”

TEA’s Declaration of Energy Independence represents a commitment to the following four principles that will help power America’s economy for everyone over the next century and beyond:

·       Affordable Energy for Our Families. From the jobs created to lower utility bills and cleaner air, affordable energy is fundamental to economic prosperity for all. It is a moral imperative to provide for families who are most vulnerable to increases in their energy budgets.

·       Clean Energy for Our Environment. We lead the world, by a wide margin, in cutting CO2 emissions. America’s natural gas is the fiscally-sound, reliable and environmentally responsible bridge to our energy future.

·       Abundant Energy for Our Future. Technology and exploration have guaranteed that America has a continuous 100-year supply of natural gas and the potential for even more.

·       Domestic Energy for Our Security. The use of domestic natural gas discovered, produced, and refined in the U.S. makes certain America is no longer dependent on rapidly changing global markets and unstable or hostile countries.

“Energy production has delivered an energy renaissance to Eastern and Southeastern Ohio,” said Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH). “America is no longer dependent on foreign sources, many of them hostile, to meet our energy needs. Instead, we are putting hard-working Americans to work and producing it ourselves. I will continue to advocate for a robust “all of the above” energy platform. Our hard-fought, newfound American Energy advantage must be preserved and utilized for the benefit of all Americans.”

“For too long, Americans have spent their hard-earned dollars on energy that is produced overseas, risking our nation’s security and stability and shunning millions of family supporting jobs,” said Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (R-LA). “The Declaration of Energy Independence is something all Americans can agree on — a commitment to a cleaner environment, an investment in the livelihoods of millions of our neighbors, and lower energy costs for all.”

“Affordable, clean, and abundant domestic energy will be critical to America’s economic recovery,” said Jim Nathanson, Executive Director for TEA.  “We cannot afford to squander our domestic energy advantage, and we call on all political leaders to join us and embrace natural gas as essential to our shared future prosperity.”

Domestic natural gas has helped power America’s energy revolution and provides clean, low-cost energy to millions. America has also surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s top producer of natural gas and oil and is poised to be a net energy exporter.  Because of natural gas, America is on its way to energy independence, a boon for our national and economic security.

“We launched our campaign to counter well-funded special interests and politicians promoting ideas that threaten America’s national security and position as the number one economy in the world,” said Nathanson.  “This new phase of our campaign demonstrates our message is resonating as we build our grassroots army across the country.” 

More information about TEA’s grassroots network, the Blue Energy Nation, can be found here.