September 1st, 2023

• Stay up to date on all things energy by visiting the TEA Newsroom.
• Natural Gas CARES: It is the world’s Cleanest, Affordable, Reliable Energy Source.
• Republicans take aim at the ‘next Solyndra.’ Will voters care?
• The latest home appliance crackdown: Ceiling fans.
• New California rules would crush rooftop solar incentives.
• Biden blasted for erroneous climate policy post.
• Green activists have hurt the environment by letting Hawaii, California burn.
• Experts fear American fishing, boating industry at risk due to Biden policies.

As we head into the end of summer and celebrate the Labor Day holiday, TEA wants to talk about how important affordable and reliable energy — especially from American energy sources like natural gas — is to American workers and the businesses that employ them.

It is important to remember that Natural Gas Works For America, especially in light of a recent report by an anti-fracking group attempting to downplay the positive impact of natural gas on the Appalachian region. Here those claims are refuted, with the author pointing out the many benefits to workers and families in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
First, a few facts:

• The oil and natural gas industry combined supports almost 11 million U.S. jobs, 5.4% of the nation’s total employment. For every job in the oil and natural gas industry, nearly 4 jobs are created elsewhere.
• In 2021, the oil and natural gas industry produced $909 billion in labor income and supported nearly $1.8 trillion in U.S. gross domestic product.
• The energy supply chain is more than one million workers, employed in over 120,000 companies in 60 industries, working in all 50 states. It contributes more than $170 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

Moreover, the natural gas industry has resulted in $500 billion in savings for U.S. businesses over the past decade, allowing small businesses to invest more in growth and job creation. Natural gas is good for our economy — and this is critical at a time when many consumers are worried about inflation.

Don’t believe the junk science spewed from the climate crazies and those enabling them, namely the Biden administration. A total of 847,000 jobs in those three states is not insignificant.

A clean, affordable and reliable energy source, like American natural gas, keeps America and millions of Americans working. For more information, check out TEA’s “Natural Gas Fuels Jobs” Factsheet. It is also abundant, with about a century’s worth beneath our feet, much of it in the energy-rich Appalachian region.

Bottom Line: From manufacturing to agriculture, clean, affordable, reliable energy fuels our labor force. Remember, this week and every week, Natural Gas Works For America.

America’s once powerful auto industry is in trouble. President Biden thinks he has the answer in producing more electric vehicles. He’s wrong.

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain made their position clear recently, saying: “The federal government is pouring billions into the electric vehicle transition, with no strings attached and no commitment to workers. The EV transition is at serious risk of becoming a race to the bottom. We want to see national leadership have our back on this before we make any commitments.”

The UAW this week authorized a strike against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis due primarily to this shift to EV manufacturing.

The approval comes amidst the automakers’ efforts to embrace the electric vehicle transition, which the UAW noted could result in risks to its members.
As noted by the UAW, 97% of members who participated in the strike authorization vote were in favor of potential strikes at the facilities of the Big Three. So far, there are about 145,000 UAW members at the three car manufacturers.

Facts:

• Electric vehicles require significantly fewer parts, thus they require fewer workers to assemble them.
• EV assembly is low-skilled, low-paid labor, not the trained, high-skilled labor required for making traditional vehicles.
• This transition isn’t just devastating for auto workers alone, but also the millions of workers that produce parts and support jobs in the automotive supply chain.

We don’t want to see a strike and working families suffer, but we understand the union’s grave concerns.

We also don’t want to become like Germany. Companies there are looking at offshore production as energy prices have skyrocketed.

Germany’s 200 billion euro ($197 billion) energy aid package will provide limited relief for businesses and is unlikely to dissuade companies that are already looking to relocate to cheaper manufacturing bases overseas.

And more taxpayer dollars funneled into green programs, including EV incentives, for a vehicle most Americans can’t afford and don’t want.

It’s been a bumpy first year for EVs under the Inflation Reduction Act (or better labeled Inflation Raging Act). Sales have been soft and propped up largely due to the $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases.
This is not a situation that can or should be sustained, especially for green pipedreams subsidized by U.S. taxpayers. It will devastate the American auto industry, harm working families and further damage our already Biden-battered economy.

In this instance, the UAW leadership is absolutely correct. We need to seek out leaders who look out for both American workers and consumers.

Bottom Line: Energy affordability and security isn’t a polarizing issue and it should not be a partisan political issue. Producing and consuming domestic energy is good for all Americans. Green New Deal schemes simply are not.

Heading into Labor Day Weekend, gas prices are stuck in neutral. The national average for a gallon of gasoline is currently sitting at $3.82, the same place it was one week ago. According to AAA, overall gas demand is down in 2023 compared to 2022, even though prices at the pump were lower this summer. The exact reason is unclear, but it may be the case that inflation is finally catching up to Americans’ pocketbooks, with 61% of Americans saying they’re living paycheck to paycheck.

Hearing On DOE And Emerging Technologies: On Thursday, September 7, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will have a hearing to examine recent advances in artificial intelligence and the Department of Energy’s role in ensuring United States competitiveness and security in emerging technologies.

“Natural gas is vital to our economic growth. It is nearly impossible to operate in manufacturing without natural gas.”

— Coshocton, Ohio Mayor Mark Mills (D)