CEA Newsletter
Issue 34
Message from CEA President David Holt
The start of each new year is a time of renewal, excitement and rededication to principles important in our lives. As you develop your new year’s resolutions, be assured that CEA is working hard and moving forward in promoting policies and education that will benefit all American consumers.
At CEA, we look forward to a year of progress in educating the public regarding the importance of American energy and working with lawmakers and stakeholders to develop policies favorable to the domestic production of all types of energy, including renewables and traditional sources.
During 2009, CEA grew substantially – increasing our affiliate membership to 127 varied organizations and our grassroots consumer membership to 265,000-plus. As we look ahead to 2010, CEA anticipates extensive growth by expanding efforts to reach an even greater number of American consumers, businesses, organizations and stakeholders.
CEA’s top priorities include the education and mobilization of consumers to help secure reliable and stable energy solutions – and development of economic opportunities through a thoughtful and balanced energy policy for America. We will continue our efforts to assist national lawmakers in developing a comprehensive energy strategy that properly balances the near-term use of oil and gas resources, the long-term development of alternative energy and enhanced energy efficiency.
As you reflect on the principles important to you for 2010, CEA asks that you remain an active part of our membership and possibly consider a modest donation to CEA through our website by clicking here. Working together to meet our nation’s energy challenges is an important endeavor that will help secure our nation’s future. We look forward to working with you to meet those challenges. Your support is critical.
Happy New Year 2010!
David Holt
President
Help Defeat Efforts to Ban North American Energy and Increase Prices at the Pump!
The Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is being sold to the American public as a way to blend transportation fuels with low-carbon alternatives so that tailpipe CO2 emissions can be reduced. But the fact is that affordable and reliable lower-carbon fuel options are not yet available. As a result, an LCFS simply will increase the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline and will place certain domestic supplies of transportation fuels off limits. Increasing the cost of transportation fuel and U.S. dependence upon foreign sources of petroleum is simply unsound energy policy.
Join our effort to defeat these measures, which would put an economic stranglehold on America and leave U.S. consumers stuck with higher prices at the pump. Send in your comments today!
Visit the CEA Store – Show your support!
CEA recently launched an online store complete with CEA and domestic energy development-themed merchandise. We’ve included many unique items that will appeal to every taste and budget, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, yard signs, buttons, mugs and even a doggie-sized T-shirt for your four-footed friend. Help CEA spread the word regarding the necessity of a balanced energy policy for America! Visit the CEA Store today.
CEA Welcomes New Affiliate Members
CEA is proud to announce the addition of several new affiliate members who have joined our alliance in recent months: National Association of Truck Stop Operators, Chesapeake Energy Arkansas, StatoilHydro, Caterpillar Global Petroleum Group and DHL (Deutsche Post World Net – USA). For a complete list of CEA’s valued affiliates, click here.
CEA Blog: The Consumer Energy Year in Review
Check out CEA’s recent blog entry about the changes and developments that affected American energy during 2009. Join the conversation at CEA’s website. Read blog…
Consumer Corner: Make Energy Efficiency a New Year’s Resolution
The start of a new year is the perfect time to rededicate yourself to saving energy (and therefore saving money!) Make energy efficiency one of your resolutions for 2010. There are numerous strategies that you can implement in your home to reduce energy use and costs.
To get started, estimate how much energy you currently use and what it costs you by conducting an energy audit. Then, try some of these tips to reduce: turn down your thermostat, install a programmable thermostat, switch to energy-saving light bulbs and seal your windows and doors. More tips can be found here. Keep track of your energy bills and energy-related costs throughout the year and see the effects of your efforts.
These helpful tips are courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Blog.
Predictions of Continued Cold Weather Causes Heating Oil Futures to Surge
Increased demand for home-heating fuel has caused heating oil futures to surge as cold weather is expected to continue in the northeast United States. Read article…
Smart Wind Turbines Predict Wind Direction and May Increase Energy Production
Danish scientists recently completed tests on new smart wind turbines equipped with lasers that predict wind direction and turbulence and optimize energy production. Read article…
Affiliate Spotlight: Nuclear Energy Institute
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is responsible for establishing unified nuclear industry policy on regulatory, financial, technical and legislative issues affecting the industry. NEI members include all companies licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States; nuclear plant designers, major architect/engineering firms, fuel fabrication facilities, materials licensees, and other organizations and individuals involved in the nuclear energy industry.
“The purposes of the Institute are to foster and encourage the continued safe utilization and development of nuclear energy to meet the nation’s energy, environmental and economic goals and to support the nuclear energy industry,” says Director of Government Affairs Jim Colgary.
To achieve these goals, NEI provides policy direction on critical issues, including regulation, legislation, congressional awareness/acceptance, waste, transportation and other activities; advocacy and representation before the Congress, agencies and lawmakers; and educational outreach to policy makers, the public and other constituencies to promote acceptance and recognition of nuclear energy’s role in the nation’s supply of safe, secure, dependable and economic electric energy.
Electricity demand in the United States – caused by future economic growth and population increase – is expected to increase by at least 20 percent by 2030, Colgary points out citing statistics from the Energy Information Administration.
“To address this expected increasing demand for electricity, while simultaneously reducing the emissions impact on the environment, the United States must maintain an energy portfolio with diverse energy sources, including the only proven base load generation technology deployable on a large scale, 24/ 7, with no air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions during production. That source is a domestic energy technology: nuclear energy,” explains Colgary.
NEI expects four to eight new U.S. nuclear plants in operation by about 2016, according to Colgary.
“As they undergo construction, and assuming those first plants are meeting their construction schedules and cost estimates, the rate of construction will accelerate. With the necessary investment stimulus and financing support, we could see as many as 15-18 new plants on line by about 2020,” he emphasizes.
As a member of Consumer Energy Alliance, NEI’s goal is to enable America’s access to affordable energy.
“The uneven distribution of fossil fuel supplies among countries, and the critical need to widely access energy resources, has left us vulnerable,” Colgary notes. “Threats to our energy security include political instability of energy-producing countries, manipulation of energy supplies, competition over energy sources and attacks on supply infrastructure, as well as accidents and natural disasters. Our national security is inextricably linked to our country’s and the world’s energy security.
“CEA is an organization whose objectives regarding energy security match NEI’s energy and national security objectives. CEA and NEI are working hard to ensure a more protected energy security policy in America.”
For more information on the Nuclear Energy Institute, visit www.nei.org. To participate in NEI’s grassroots effort, the Nuclear Advocacy Network, visit www.nuclearadvocacynetwork.org, codeword “uranium.”