RALEIGH, NC – November 14, 2017 –– Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today announced the start of a statewide campaign designed to educate North Carolina lawmakers, families, and businesses about the unending benefits of energy and the central role it plays in their everyday lives and budgets.
CEA’s “Campaign for America’s Energy” will highlight the important role that affordable, reliable energy plays in the lives of families and businesses, and the consequences that result from bad policy decisions. CEA will continue to hold the energy industry in North Carolina and throughout its neighboring states to a higher safety standard, recognizing the need for continued innovation to advance environmental goals.
The launch of this movement, aimed at changing, balancing, and improving the energy discussion so that those directly impacted – American families and businesses – have a greater voice in the dialogue. The effort will give elected officials across the nation the opportunity to adopt new policies that support energy production and delivery. CEA also aims to bring greater awareness to how rejecting or delaying energy production and infrastructure projects hurts lower-income households and those on fixed incomes, like retirees.
The campaign comes at a time when, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, North Carolinians spend just over $3,000 annually on energy. For a low-income person living at the poverty line, that translates to 25 percent of their individual income. These expenses often stifle economic development in communities across the state, while driving their residents into energy insecurity.
“North Carolina’s economic development infrastructure is reliant on a modern energy policy that promotes affordable and reliable energy production and delivery while protecting our farmers, landowners, and natural resources” said Larry Wooten, President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau. “CEA’s Campaign for America’s Energy will lead the way by reminding North Carolina policymakers of their unique chance to understand how the state’s energy needs can be effectively met with fresh solutions, while also protecting our environment.”
“North Carolinians shouldn’t have to choose between air-conditioning, buying a meal, or filling a medical prescription, yet for too many, that’s precisely what’s happening – and energy costs are a big reason why,” said Brydon Ross, Director of CEA-Southeast. “Yes, we agree: We must push energy companies to innovate, reduce emissions and improve performance. Protecting and improving the environment is a must-do. But so is lowering the cost of energy, and we can only do this if Democrats and Republicans work together to push balanced legislation.”
CEA, an advocacy organization representing many different types of consumers like families, manufacturers, agriculture, transporters, distributors, energy producers, renewables and various other industries in North Carolina and across the U.S., focuses on helping ensure stable prices, energy security, and balanced energy policy for those consumers across the country. The organization pushes energy companies to innovate and improve performance while supporting energy independence and a diversification of our energy resources, including renewables like solar and wind.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.consumerenergyalliance.org/campaign-for-americas-energy/North-Carolina.
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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.
Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org
