Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to help expand the dialogue between the energy and consuming sectors to improve understanding of energy security, more effectively develop and use both renewable and oil & gas energy resources in an environmentally conscious manner, create sound energy policy and maintain stable energy prices for consumers.

SEA Applauds Vitter Amendment; Would Allow Southeastern States to Lower Gasoline, Diesel & Electricity Rates Nationwide

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WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 5, 2007  The Southeast Energy Alliance (SEA) announced its strong support for an amendment offered by Senator Vitter during the mark-up of Climate Change legislation in the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee earlier today.

“SEA would like to thank Senator Vitter for offering language today that would reduce gasoline, diesel, natural gas and electricity prices,” said Michael Whatley, SEA’s Executive Director. It is encouraging to see someone stand up and offer legislation that will have a positive impact on energy prices.”

The amendment, offered during EPW consideration of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation (S. 2191), would allow Southeastern states to opt out of federal offshore drilling moratoria if natural gas prices rise due to the phasing-out of coal in electricity generation.

If any of the states allowed by the legislation to petition the Secretary of Interior for leasing in its adjacent waters (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) were to file such a petition, they would receive 37.5 percent of the royalty revenues received by the federal government and an additional 12.5 percent of the revenues would be directed to federal wildlife restoration and land & water conservation funds.

“Despite the fact that Americans from coast to coast are clamoring for Congress to help reduce energy prices, end our dependence on imported oil and bolster our sagging economy, the EPW Committee is marking-up legislation which would increase gasoline and diesel prices, increase natural gas and electricity prices, and hammer our economy.

“At a time when oil is approaching $100 per barrel, gasoline and diesel cost around $3.00 per gallon and natural gas remains 300% above historical averages, it seems incredible that the EPW Committee wants to enact legislation that will raise these prices even further and hurt – rather than help – our families, our farms and our economy.”

“The Vitter amendment does a great job balancing America’s need for increased domestic energy production with Southeastern States’ ability to define which areas of their adjacent waters – if any – should be made available for energy production.”