Reducing Consumer Choices Only Leads to Higher Prices
RICHMOND, VA – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, today released a report which finds that a natural gas ban could cost every household in Virginia more than $27,000.
“The Hidden Costs of a Virginia Natural Gas Ban” examines the impact of a natural gas ban if it were forced onto families and Virginians. Using open-source consumer data, CEA developed a cost calculator to provide an estimate of what a typical household in Richmond could expect to pay as a result of policies to ban natural gas service and use, depending on home configuration, appliances used and other factors.
These findings dovetail with previous CEA research which found that the cost to replace solely major gas appliances in homes nationwide would be more than $258 billion.
“With one in three Virginia households using natural gas for home heating, banning natural gas would be financially devastating to families who would have to pay upwards of $27,000 to involuntarily reconfigure their home and purchase new appliances,” CEA Vice President of State Affairs Kevin Doyle said. “A ban on natural gas will inevitably increase energy bills; disproportionately harming the 9.9% of Virginians who live at or below the poverty level, those in disadvantaged communities or on fixed incomes, and families and businesses still struggling to afford the basics after more than a year of soaring inflation and high energy prices.”
“Natural gas is a critical resource for fueling Virginia’s families and businesses, but it has also been pivotal in the remarkable emissions reductions Virginia has achieved while natural gas use has increased,” Doyle said.
The report highlights data from the Environmental Protection Agency, which shows that from 1990 to 2021, Virginia’s emissions of criteria pollutants have decreased across the board, including:
- 75.1% reduction in nitrogen oxides
- 67.6% reduction in volatile organic compounds
- 96.1% reduction in sulfur dioxide
“Consumers should retain the right to keep the energy service they want and choose appliances they wish to use. Natural gas serves an important role in our energy mix as an always-on option, ensuring consumers have the power and heat they need, when they need it. We hope officials and lawmakers recognize the opportunities for natural gas and its infrastructure to play an important, complementary role in reaching net-zero objectives,” Doyle said.
To view the report, click here.
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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.
Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org
