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Consumer Report: North Carolinians Saved Almost $12 Billion Thanks to Low-Priced Fuel

Group of Friends on the Beach

Consumer Energy Alliance Examines Energy Production’s Benefits to North Carolina’s Families, Small Businesses and Industries in New Report

Raleigh, NC. —North Carolina families and businesses saved more than $11.9 billion thanks to low-priced natural gas and another $7.2 billion at the gas pump, thanks to a combination of increased energy production and strong, safe infrastructure to deliver it, according to a report from Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA).

The report, “North Carolinians Benefit from Affordable Energy and Pipeline Infrastructure,” found that residential energy users saved more than $4 billion while commercial and industrial users saved more than $7.8 billion from natural gas. This is in addition to the $7.2 billion in savings consumers realized filling up their cars and trucks when compared to 2008 gasoline and diesel prices.

The analysis details how the state achieved those feats despite having no significant in-state energy production while facing substantial demand from consumers. About 10 percent of homes depend on petroleum for heating, and almost 80 percent of the petroleum in the state is used for motor vehicle fuel to transport goods and people as well as provide services. Currently, that supply is delivered through two main pipeline arteries which serve the vast majority of the East Coast.

CEA’s analysis also found that in 2015, the oil and gas industry created $13.4 billion in total economic impact for the Tar Heel state, provided more than 141,500 jobs statewide and more than $7 billion in wages.

Additional highlights from the report include:

• New supplies are critical for North Carolinians because 25 percent of the state’s households depend on natural gas to warm their homes in the winter;
• Additionally, electric power generation accounts for almost 60 percent of North Carolina’s natural gas consumption;
• On average, each resident of North Carolina spent $2,992 to meet their energy needs in 2017. With 14 percent of the state’s population living at or below the poverty line, this translates to almost one in every four dollars of their income going toward energy expenses.

“With calls by a few politicians and radical activists to ban oil exploration off the coast, stalled infrastructure and utility issues, it’s more important than ever for families and businesses to understand the impacts of ill-conceived energy policies and how they can affect the wallets of families and businesses across the state,” said CEA Vice President of State Affairs Kevin Doyle. “Continued anti-development efforts here have stalled projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and additional energy development offshore with no viable solutions on how to meet the state’s energy needs.”

Doyle added: “With the savings realized by both families and businesses, and as industries within the state continue to grow, it will be crucial that North Carolinians learn to strike a balance with how they talk about energy and the environmental protection – because it is possible to have both.”

To view the report, click here.

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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 500,000 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

Line 3 Shows Regulatory Process Working to Ensure Minnesota Communities Are Safe

Minneapolis, Minnesota from Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) today procedurally denied the Water Quality Certification for the Line 3 Replacement Project in a without-prejudice ruling that allows a future re-application for the certificate. This automatic decision is the result of a deadline passing as the Agency awaits the final Environmental Impact Statement because of additional work ordered by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

The Environmental Impact Statement has been delayed because it is currently undergoing additional modeling by the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which was required by the Court.

Consumer Energy Alliance Midwest Executive Director Chris Ventura released the following statement:

“Today’s ruling is a procedural decision to allow the additional modeling ordered by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. We are encouraged that the MPCA is diligently following the process designed to provide certainty to the regulatory system. This is good news for Minnesota families and businesses and shows good faith in the project at hand.

“Line 3 remains the most comprehensively studied pipeline – by all measures – in the history of Minnesota. We hope that when a revised application is submitted in the future, the MPCA will continue their diligent work and allow the Line 3 Replacement Project to move forward.

“Minnesota’s families, farmers, and local businesses continue to need the affordable, reliable energy delivered by Line 3. Moreover, we must continue Modernizing Minnesota’s energy infrastructure for the benefit of both the residents of our state and the environment.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, 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, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

Time to Get Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project Moving Again

At a construction site, a technician tests a pipeline weld for defects using an ultrasonic phased array instrument.

Opponents to energy production and infrastructure will seemingly stop at nothing to ensure pipeline projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline are unable to continue construction – stonewalling the economic and environmental benefits the project would bring.

Besides generating jobs and tax revenue, pipelines help lower household energy expenses by increasing supply. That’s key for North Carolinians, who spend nearly $3,000 annually on energy. For those in poverty, that’s about 25 percent of their take-home pay.

Read more – Sun Journal

Consumer Group Finds Ohio’s Emissions Have Declined Faster than the National Average

Father teaching his son cycling at park

Despite its high energy demands and a surge in energy production, Ohio’s statewide emissions have fallen by as much as 94 percent since 1990

Columbus, OH — Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today released an Ohio emissions brief that looks at key pollutants and the overall environmental improvements seen across the state. The brief offers further support for one of the great untold stories in Ohio and across the country, the United States is leading the world in environmental stewardship and emission reduction.

The brief comes as youth across the country marched in support of a healthier environment, and to seek answers from community leaders, policymakers and adults about what is being done to improve our environment while also meeting today’s growing demand for energy. This brief shows everyone that many of their questions have already been answered by ongoing innovation and technology in the U.S.

CEA’s brief found that even as Ohio increases its energy production and remains one of the nation’s largest energy consumers, emissions of key air pollutants and greenhouse gases have declined significantly across the state.

From 1990 to 2017, Ohio’s emissions of key pollutants have decreased across the board, with a:

• 72 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx),
• 94 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2), and;
• 66 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Additionally, from 1990 to 2016, Ohio’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions declined by 16 percent.

Moreover, while Ohio’s emissions of key pollutants and carbon dioxide were decreasing, the state saw a marked increase in energy production, boosting job creation and economic growth. Ohio production of natural gas increased more than 1,900 percent over the past decade.

“As Ohioans continue to voice their support for creating a healthier environment, and ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy, we are happy that data from the EPA and the WHO demonstrates that Ohioans can simultaneously have a cleaner environment and energy production,” said Chris Ventura, CEA’s Executive Director in Ohio. “This is due in part to the commonsense regulatory policies enacted by our elected officials and the voluntary actions that have been taken by companies across Ohio to the benefit of our communities. We should all be proud that Ohio is one of the leading states in the nation in realizing greater emissions reductions. Now, let’s keep this amazing progress going!”

This brief follows CEA’s Energy Savings Report for Ohio consumers, which found that families, small business and manufacturers across the state saved over $40 billion on their natural gas utility bills over the past decade. This is due to the prolific American Energy Revolution occurring in Southeast Ohio, and similar states across the country.

To view the brief, click here.

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, 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, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

CEA and FL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Host Energy Affordability Event for Families and Small Businesses

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the nation’s leading energy advocate for families and small businesses, the Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Policy Group today held an interactive discussion with members of the Florida business community and families about how energy policies affect their bottom line.

“Consumer Energy Alliance has long advocated for all-of-the-above energy policy to ensure that Florida’s families and small businesses have access to reliable and affordable energy,” said Kevin Doyle, Consumer Energy Alliance’s Florida Executive Director. “With innovation, technology and human ingenuity, we are confident we can reach a balance, resulting in a win for national security, our tourism industry, our environment and the millions of families and small businesses in Florida that depend on reliable, affordable energy.”

With Congressional bills calling to extend a moratorium on oil and gas exploration in most of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, proposals that restrict energy development, stalled infrastructure and utility issues, it’s more important than ever that Florida’s business owners understand the impacts of energy policy and how best to balance environmental stewardship and energy development.

Today’s discussion provided an opportunity for business leaders, government officials and individuals to learn more about Florida’s role as an energy importer and the critical role a comprehensive energy policy – encompassing renewable and traditional energy sources – can play in creating jobs, generating tax revenue, driving economic growth and reducing utility bills.

“I’m a firm proponent of a balanced energy supply, which encompasses an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach,” said Julio Fuentes, President, and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “One in four businesses in Florida is a Hispanic-owned business. The Hispanic business community understands the importance that affordable and reliable energy plays in Florida’s economy.”

Floridians saved more than $8 billion between 2006-2016 thanks to increased natural gas output produced with safer, state-of-the-art technology under the world’s most stringent environmental standards – despite being wholly reliant on energy imported from elsewhere. Florida’s residential electricity rates are cheaper than more than two-thirds of the country, too, according to Energy Information Administration data.

“Whether it is working in trade, tourism, logistics or transportation, any disruption in stable American energy supply that increases energy prices could have a devastating effect on jobs for Hispanic families,” said Ariel Fernandez, President of the Hispanic Policy Group. “The recent events in Saudi Arabia and Venezuela hurt global energy supplies but the impact on the U.S. was limited, because we are just now becoming the world’s leading energy producer. That’s why it’s important for all Floridians to understand how strong, safe U.S. energy production shields our economy and families.”

Even though Florida doesn’t produce any oil or gas, the industry already contributes $11.9 billion in wages and 266,800 jobs to the Sunshine State through workers that make oil and gas production and delivery possible, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study.

Calls to extend an oil and gas drilling moratorium in federal waters off of Florida, as well as anti-energy efforts to limit access to natural gas and the pipelines that carry it, all represent risks. While no Floridian wants to risk our beautiful coastlines and threaten our tourism industry, there is an opportunity to protect our shores and boost our economy by allowing limited oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, which could bring as much as 85,000 jobs and $4.5 billion a year to the economy.

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, 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, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

What’s Your Solution for the Energy Needed in Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion

Whether you’re a woman or a man, you’ve likely been in a predicament where an event has come up, the weather’s changing, or there isn’t anything in your closet that’s new, or fits. So what is the first thing we do? Go shopping.

As experts, elected officials and activist groups, like Greenpeace, look for areas where American consumers can reduce their carbon footprint, and cut the amount of waste occurring annually, many of them should look no further than the clothes on their backs.

Fashion is one of the few industries that was able to continuously grow by 5.5% over the last decade, becoming a $2.4 trillion industry in 2017 when consumer confidence was at an all-time high. If the fashion industry were a world economy, it’d be ranked seventh. So while roughly 80 billion items of clothing, shoes, and accessories are amassed annually worldwide, Americans alone averaged almost 68 garments a year in 2018. That’s almost 22.3 BILLION in apparel – just in the United States – or the equivalent of 33 pieces of new apparel for every one person on the planet!

The desire to have the latest and greatest looks at a low-cost is one of the catalysts for fast fashion. While few can afford clothes and shoes seen on the runway, companies like H&M, Forever 21, Zara, Steve Madden, and Aldo are providing look-a-like patterns and products, at affordable prices. One of the biggest areas of growth is in athletic wear, which extensively uses synthetic fibers and is primarily manufactured overseas.

Instead of restocking shelves with pieces that sell out quickly, these companies move to the next “hot” items, and so do consumers. Although shoppers are buying 60% more clothing now than in 2000, these garments are only kept half as long!

This means stores are constantly putting out new items at record rates. It’s not just brick and mortar retailers either. The ability to have the “perfect outfit” whenever want one is at our fingertips – and shoppers take advantage of it. With over 40% of Americans starting their product research on Amazon, 28% end up purchasing any one of those items at least once a month.

Creating all of this fashion is no easy task either. Not only are there the employees coming in for design meetings, but there is also the manufacture of materials and the products themselves. Add in packaging and the transportation of that product from the country or state where it was made to the retailer and finally the transportation to your home – and you’ve got an energy supply chain that is more extensive than you ever realized.

Ultimately, this convenient fast-fashion craze would not be possible without energy. From fabrics and their blends like spandex, nylon, and acrylic which are made using traditional fuels through our nations petrochemical complexes to transportation, much of the fashion industry relies on affordable fuel. So next time you think about ways to reduce carbon emissions, or your own carbon footprint, realize that it’s more than just a switch to renewable energy resources – it’s the clothes and shoes we wear too.

Consumer Group Applauds Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for Initiating PURPA Review

Mom with two young children

Washington D.C. – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) applauds the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for proposing reforms to the Commission’s implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).

CEA released the following statement on the PURPA reforms:

State regulators have long been concerned with PURPA provisions that require utilities to purchase power from independent generators and whether those requirements are abused by smaller-scale wholesale energy generators called qualifying facilities (QFs), leading to higher electricity costs for end-users. Over the past several years, there has been an increasing call from many regulators asking FERC to initiate reforms to remove the opportunities for these types of abuses.

CEA applauds FERC for initiating a PURPA rulemaking today and urges any PURPA reform effort by the commission to focus on the energy consumer. In an era where electricity markets are shifting and evolving on a continual basis, it is essential that federal and state regulations ensure adequate affordable and reliable electricity for both residential and commercial end-users. We continue to support the increased deployment of independent generators, robust distributed generation growth and the ability of consumers to offset their energy use to lower their power bills.

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is a national non-partisan, non-profit association that has long advocated for energy and environmental policies which focus on creating a diverse portfolio of energy supplies, from traditional to renewable, for America’s families and small businesses. As a representative of energy consumers, families, small businesses and end-users across the nation, CEA strongly supports the increased use of renewable energy and is proud to advocate for the use of resources that help meet energy demands, temper volatile energy prices, and ensure fair access to energy for all.

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, 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, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic and environmentally responsible solutions to meeting our energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
P: 202-657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

There is No Credible Way to Transport Oil and Natural Gas Without Pipelines

Inside view of a pipeline

Since the success of the trans-Alaska pipeline system in 1977, oil and natural gas pipelines have been delivering our energy needs in a safe and environmentally-friendly way. With sensors, drones, and state-of-the-art technology, the United States’ more than 2.4 million miles of pipeline continues to be the only credible way to transport oul and natural gas.

“With America’s vast oil and gas resources crucial for jobs creation and economic growth, the case for expanding the nation’s pipelines system has become compelling. Think about it: U.S. oil and gas production is increasing because new pipelines are being built, bolstering the economy. And the shift from burning coal to natural gas for generating electricity has brought dramatic improvements in air quality and carbon mitigation.”

Read more – The Hill

Saudi Oilfield Drone Attacks Underscore Need to Keep Growing U.S. Energy Independence

OPEC building

Without energy production revolution, cost to consumers would have been higher

Houston – Consumer Energy Alliance President David Holt released the following statement today in response to Saturday’s drone attacks on crucial Saudi oil infrastructure:

“Let this unnecessary act of terrorism serve as a good example of why U.S.-produced energy is so critical to American families and businesses, and our international friends and allies.

“Global market prices, even with the trading surge on the news, remain reasonable in large part because the U.S. is producing more oil and natural gas than ever before. We are better able to shrug off these dangerous geopolitical gambits by our opponents.

“CEA asks all candidates who continue to blindly preach the so-called Green New Deal and its goal of abolishing traditional energy to remember that the U.S. is part of a wider world where oil and natural gas are still a crucial geopolitical currency – something our society is asking for more of, not less.

“We can and must have sensible energy solutions and continued environmental stewardship – and, in fact, the U.S. is actually showing the world that both can exist at the same time.

“Low energy prices support a stronger economy and our families, businesses and farmers. Harmful emissions continue to decline in the U.S. – and the U.S. continues to lead the world in greenhouse gas emission reductions.

“CEA has long held that energy and environmental policy should be non-partisan and that’s truer today than ever before. Candidates from both parties should seek thoughtful, bi-partisan ways to engage U.S. energy and continue the stewardship of our environment.“

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, 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, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic and environmentally responsible solutions to meeting our energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
P: 202-657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

Consumer Group Applauds Court Decision, Expresses Hope that this Decision Deters Future Nuisance Filings

Minnesota Supreme Court

Minneapolis, MN – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) Midwest Executive Director Chris Ventura issued the following statement after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) should continue working to address a deficiency in the Line 3 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS.) This critical decision offers another positive signal that the project – and the process – will move forward quickly after another round of stall-tactic lawsuits by anti-energy groups.

“As a state, as professional organizations and as members of the community, it is time to pay respect to the men and women who have spent countless hours over 16-months to complete this EIS – a process that has involved 49 public hearings, environmental regulatory and policy reviews and consideration of thousands of public comments,” Ventura said. “The significant time over the last four years that has been committed to ensuring public need and safety has been completed – we’re glad the Minnesota Supreme Court agrees.

“We are happy to see that the MPUC can move forward to address the one, narrow issue identified by the MN Appeals Court with the EIS. It also allows the project to move forward for the thousands of people who have dutifully completed the work, for those that are looking forward to new construction work, and for farmers and landowners who have budgeted and planned for work to be done on their property.

“We hope this latest decision by the court deters future filings by these anti-energy extremists in their quest to change the rules because they ultimately disliked the result. It’s time to modernize Minnesota.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, 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, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs.

 

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

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