September 27th, 2024

• Stay up to date on all things energy by visiting the TEA Newsroom.
• America needs Affordable, Reliable, Clean energy security.
• Biden admin announces $3B for battery projects.
• Behind Microsoft’s AI power deal.
• Demands on a permitting package add up as time runs short.
• Oil and gas leaders voice ‘unbelievable worries’ about the election.
• California’s backlogged grid is holding up its electric truck dreams.
• House majority may hinge on farm-heavy New York district.
• Alaska natural gas crunch increases demand for coal.
• Harris backs minerals stockpile, permitting reform.

The issue: For the past five years The Empowerment Alliance has advocated for strong domestic energy production, fueled by natural gas. We have enjoyed several significant victories at the local, state and federal levels. These include Natural Gas is Green legislation in Ohio that officially labeled natural gas a clean and green energy source, a tremendous win for energy consumers.

Why it matters: Most recently TEA has championed the Energy Security ARC, which encourages local, state and national leaders to pass legislation that bolsters cost-effective energy policies. We saw two perfect examples of that effort; one from a pair of governors and another from an organization of state legislators dedicated to free markets and limited governments.

Consider:

• The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) unveiled model legislative policy aiming to redirect the vital and contentious issue of American energy away from its Washington, D.C., battleground and to the 50 states, for the purpose of providing we the people a greater and more-localized say in energy security.
• La. Gov. Jeff Landry launched a new coalition of governors dedicated to ‘energy choice,’ along with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
• Eight other Republican governors have already signed onto the coalition — and we encourage governors more to join, including Democrats.
• It’s not acceptable for the Biden-Harris administration to dictate energy and fuel policy. State and local leaders and consumers should be the driving forces.

“One thing is clear — states that enhance energy choice also enjoy lower energy costs, increase reliability, and attract businesses and employment opportunities,” Landry said. He added that it is important to sustain those trends for the benefit of residents and businesses.

Gov. Sununu said high energy costs are “driven by government regulation” and costs in his state have been managed by “embracing fuel choice and minimizing expensive mandates.”

States who join this coalition will focus on streamlining permitting, limiting energy mandates and prioritizing reliable and affordable energy. This is fully aligned with TEA’s vision and its 8-point common sense energy agenda.

Bottom line: States must take back control of their energy from the federal government so their residents can enjoy the benefits of lower costs and more options. This starts with the Energy Security ARC legislation.

The issue: Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris isn’t talking about her energy policy, because she’s not sure what it is, as this opinion piece states.

Why it matters: Almost nothing could be more important to the future of American workers than access to affordable energy. This is why Vice President Harris needs to come clean about her energy policy as she seeks the nation’s highest office. She flip-flopped on fracking and has been nearly silent about other energy issues facing our nation.

Consider:

• There is the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, which she also is conveniently distancing herself from with less than six weeks until the election.
• The House passed a bill Friday that would overturn the Biden-Harris administration’s de facto electric vehicle mandate, if it becomes law.
• Eight Democrats, including Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who represents a strong manufacturing district around Toledo, crossed party lines.
• This underscores how unpopular this proposed draconian mandate has become with both elected officials and the public.

Flashback: As a senator from California, Harris co-sponsored the Zero-Emissions Act in 2019, which would require by 2040 that 100% of new passenger vehicle sales in the U.S. release no greenhouse gasses.

Only electric and hydrogen vehicles currently fit that criteria. The bill didn’t pass.

And surprise, surprise …

Harris’ campaign wouldn’t say whether she supports requiring automakers to build only electric or hydrogen vehicles by 2035 — a position she took during her failed 2020 campaign for president. Clearly, it continues sending contradictory signals about her position on a mandate for automakers — a critical issue in pivotal Midwestern states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, where thousands of autoworkers are based.

Bottom line: Kamala Harris needs to explain her energy platform. Will she let climate-obsessed elites price us out of global competition for the industries of the future? Voters deserve to know.

For the first time in over a month, gas prices didn’t drop at all. The national average for a gallon of unleaded fuel remained at $3.22, the same as it was one week ago. The stagnant prices may have been impacted by Hurricane Helene that made landfall in Florida yesterday evening, with worries that it would take production offline. Fortunately for American motorists, it spared all of the oil rigs and refineries in the Gulf of Mexico and likely won’t have a lasting impact on prices at the pump.

Nothing on the calendar next week as Congress is in recess through November 11th. The countdown to election day is on!

“The decision sets a chilling precedent that will harm the development of infrastructure for projects related to all forms of energy, directly undermining American energy security and therefore national security.”

-Senator Ted Cruz, in a letter asking FERC to appeal a court decision to vacate permit approval for two LNG export terminals in Texas.