Little Rock skyline with Broadway Bridge and the Arkansas River

Little Rock, ARConsumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today kicked off the Energy Development & Jobs (EDJ) Alliance, a new initiative based out of Little Rock that will focus on educating Americans about the need for expanding the nation’s aging energy infrastructure and developing legislative and business support to ensure that the benefits of energy are realized – new jobs, financial investment opportunities, increased county and state revenues, school funding, lower energy costs and the overall well-being of our modern society.

At an event in Little Rock with Arkansas businesses and industry leaders, Tommy Foltz, executive director of the EDJ Alliance, said, “Since energy is the lifeblood of our modern world and economy, it’s paramount that we support the energy infrastructure that delivers essential energy that keeps our everyday life and economy running. CEA, through the EDJ Alliance initiative, is working to support infrastructure projects that are vital to the health of our economy, so that jobs are created, opportunities are realized and consumers have the reliable and affordable energy they need.

“While we are just launching this initiative today, we’ve already made a difference by CEA members sending hundreds of letters to the Arkansas congressional delegation in support of the Plains & Eastern electricity transmission project.  This project will inject $500 million into the Arkansas economy while providing low-cost power to as many as 160,000 homes,” said Foltz.

Foltz added: “Unfortunately, virtually all energy projects face at least some level of opposition. But, in most cases, the opposition comes from the vocal few who stand in the way of the silent majority who see these necessary projects providing tremendous job and economic development opportunities on many levels. The EDJ Alliance will help taxpayers, energy consumers, landowners and businesses to voice their opinion to elected officials so that they embrace the opportunities associated with energy development.”

To learn more about how energy is delivered to homes and businesses, what it takes to get it there and how Americans can benefit from modernizing and expanding the energy delivery system, please visit www.edja.org.