New Report Highlights the Way to Securing A Strong Energy Future

An energy-based economy is emerging across the nation as well as in the Philadelphia region. In fact, it is estimated that increasing domestic energy production will add 1.4 million jobs and create almost $803 billion in revenues by 2030. As a result, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) recently found that after several decades of preparation, the US may be able to be energy self-sufficient by 2020.

Yet despite the abundant resources available to us, the potential of renewable energy and the recent advancements in fuel conservation, the U.S. has failed to enact a forward thinking, clearly defined national energy policy.  What does that mean for consumers?  Volatile energy prices have had a tremendous impact on American jobs – impacting consumers, business and industry. With consumers being concerned about the future of reliable supplies of energy and how energy costs will impact their bottom line, national energy policy decisions end up impacting everyone in some way.

With this in mind, CEA recently released a policy report outlining a series of recommendations for the new Administration and the 111th Congress that support safe domestic energy development and production as well as advances in energy efficiency as the path to building a solid and secure energy future. The report, "Recommendations for a Balanced Energy Policy" lays out a blueprint for a sound energy policy that supports expanded resource development and urges the importance of ensuring affordable, reliable access to energy for all American consumers.

Through a list of over 50 recommendations that federal policymakers should support in order to ensure secure, abundant and affordable energy supplies for the American consumer, the report covers policies affecting natural resource development, electricity generation and transmission, energy infrastructure, energy efficiency and energy education. In particular, CEA recommends regulatory policy changes necessary to facilitate the development of wind, oil shale, advanced biofuels and solar technologies, expansion of nuclear power and offshore development, carbon capture and storage, as well as incentives to spur further energy efficiency.

With this report, CEA has laid out a framework for policymakers that not only achieves energy self-sufficiency for the United States, but does so in a way that expands economic opportunity and ensures energy stability and affordability for consumers.

Echoing President Obama’s recent remarks in his State of the Union address, "After years of talking about it, we are finally poised to control our own energy future.” However, in order to have an honest discussion about the nation’s energy future and what it will take to become self-sufficient, policymakers will need to consider sensible and sound policies focused on stabilizing energy prices, creating jobs and economic growth and securing our energy and economic future.

It’s time to move forward with an approach that ensures a proper balance between the use of traditional sources of energy and the development of alternatives, as well as improved energy efficiency, conservation and increased energy research. With a balanced national energy policy, our lawmakers can help the nation to move forward with a strong U.S. energy future.

CEA’s Briefing Book, “Recommendations for a Balanced Energy Policy:  A Briefing Book Presented to the Administration and the 111th Congress”, is available on its website at www.consumerenergyalliance.org. Please click here to view the publication.