Earlier in March, APGA spoke at the Energy Council Executive Committee and the Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research (CLEER) Board Meeting. These two groups are composed of representatives and senators from energy-producing states in the United States and two Canadian provinces. Formed in 1975, the Energy Council is a non-partisan legislative organization that serves as a forum for energy and related environmental policy dialogue. CLEER provides support for the Energy Council, bringing research and publications of energy policy issues to the Council’s attention and sponsoring forums and other opportunities for dialogue on energy and related environmental issues. CLEER’s support addresses energy and environmental questions and helps educate members of the Council regarding state, national, and global energy issues, in order that they may better serve their constituents.
APGA staff reiterated to these two important groups that natural gas is clean, reliable, and efficient, and it should be a part of America’s energy future. As well, our country’s public natural gas utilities stand ready to deliver lower carbon fuels, such as renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen, utilizing their existing infrastructure and workforce. Policies being pursued by Congress and the Biden Administration are potentially putting our country at risk by only focusing on one form of energy delivery—electricity. APGA staff encouraged these state lawmakers to ensure their colleagues at the federal level know that electrification policies negatively impact residents of the state they represent, especially as costs will increase without an all-of-the-above approach to energy policy.
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For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at
ssaulters@apga.org.