August 30th, 2024

• Stay up to date on all things energy by visiting the TEA Newsroom.
• America needs Affordable, Reliable, Clean energy security.
• Opinion: Follow the science: Biden climate policy is a fraud.
• Harris’ adviser calls for a ‘Clean Energy Marshall Plan.‘
• The U.S. grid adds batteries at 10x the rate of natural gas in 2024.
• Ford scraps electric SUV in $1.9B hit to EV ambitions.
• EV charger network doubles under Biden-Harris; $521M in new grants.
• Wind and solar energy surpass coal power in China.
• Red states ask SCOTUS to halt EPA methane rule.
• Opinion: Kamala Harris would destroy Pennsylvania energy jobs.

The issue: American natural gas is America’s clean energy standard, as the following piece by Jason Hayes and Dr. Timothy G. Nash details.

Why it matters: Abundant and affordable energy drives America’s powerful and productive economy. That’s been true throughout our nation’s history, and America’s recent achievement of energy independence provides the most concrete illustration of that fact.

• Despite increased use, new drilling technologies, such as fracking, produced a 79% increase in annual natural gas production in the U.S. from 2007 to 2021.
• As we produce more of it, prices are dropping. American families saved $147 billion over the last decade because of more affordable natural gas.
• Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and other appliances save an average of $1,068 per year compared to those homes using electricity.
• Natural gas now powers more than 30% of our nation’s total energy needs.

Consider: This comes at a time when more Americans are having to choose between buying food for their families and paying their energy bills. Nationally, 1 in 6 American households is in energy poverty. They struggle with the ability to afford utilities to heat or cool their home.

When they do cook meals, 40 million households do so on a gas-powered range. Natural gas, with its distinctive blue flame, has cleanly powered American homes and industry for many decades. Other affordable, reliable energy sources can get the clean stamp by exhibiting cleaner emissions like that of natural gas.

Bottom line: Policymakers at all levels of government should craft legislation that targets the standards of affordability, reliability and cleanliness that American natural gas achieves.

The issue: Let’s discuss the Democrats’ energy policies. Wait, what energy policies? As this opinion piece on The Hill website points out, voters deserve answers regarding presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ true energy policy.

Why it matters: Battleground state voters support domestic drilling, a poll shows. A key takeaway is that about four-in-five voters support a federal tax policy that encourages American energy production and strengthens the nation’s energy security.

So it would be beneficial to voters if they knew where Kamala Harris actually stands on drilling and fracking, as well as other details of an energy platform. She said, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking” back in 2019. Now her campaign staff says she’s changed her stance and has backed off that claim.

After no explanation, no press conference and not a word about it on her official website or at the recent Democratic National Convention, Harris finally spoke during an interview with CNN that aired Thursday. However, it did nothing more than muddy the waters further.

She went all in on fracking, seemingly forgetting her 2019 statement where she promised to ban the practice on her first day in office. Now she says: “I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020 that I would not ban fracking, as vice president I did not ban fracking, as president I will not ban fracking. I’m very clear about where I stand.”

We do know her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is a strong advocate for renewable energy and he’ll most likely be the guiding hand if and when a policy is crafted.

Consider:

• The American people deserve specifics.
• Voters overwhelmingly rank the economy, inflation, and national security as their top issues — and energy underpins each of those.
• If she has changed her mind, that’s fine. Then be honest with the people and state it clearly and with conviction. Don’t hide behind an anonymous campaign spokesperson.
• The price of energy is a primary driver of inflation. Domestic production has been a buffer against global instability in the Middle East, which in past years led to energy shortages and rationing at home.

Apparently, there was plenty of climate talk behind the scenes at the Democratic National Convention last week. Even though the issue took a back seat in public view, there was a lot of chatter (and money spent) among green advocacy groups. They collectively paid out $55 million on an ad campaign touting Harris and attacking Donald Trump on climate.

This total lack of transparency by the Harris-Walz campaign is egregious.

Bottom line: After a month of policy flip-flops, contradicting statements, and vague promises, the message of the Harris campaign isn’t getting clearer. It’s impossible for voters to know where Kamala Harris truly stands on policy.

Not much movement in gas prices over the past week. The national average for a gallon dropped two cents from $3.37 to $3.35. With plenty of Americans hitting the road for Labor Day weekend, look for gas prices to stay put or even rise slightly due to increased demand.

Nothing on the calendar for next week. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

“Kamala Harris’ policies mean less energy, less money in peoples’ pockets, and a lot of people freezing on a cold winter’s night.”

-VP Candidate JD Vance on Twitter/X.