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Con Ed Cuts Off New Gas Hookups in New York Suburb

New York

With almost one-third of our country’s natural gas being produced in the Marcellus and Utica shales, states from New York to Massachusetts are in ideal location to receive supplies of affordable and reliable natural gas.  However, politicians across the Mid-Atlantic and New England region have steadfastly refused to support the modernization of energy delivery infrastructure, leading to moratoriums and increased prices for families and businesses.

There is an ample supply of natural gas in the United States, but opposition to building or expanding interstate pipelines has caused delivery challenges in the Northeast, according to industry officials. Two counties in western Massachusetts have had a moratorium on new gas hookups since 2014.

In Westchester, Con Ed’s moratorium, which is primarily concentrated in the southern section of the county, has set off anger and panic among developers and elected leaders who say it has left dozens of projects in limbo, creating uncertainty about housing, jobs and the area’s economic future.

Read more – The New York Times

The Increasing Importance of Natural Gas

Liberty Street Scene in Ann Arbor

With more than 75 percent of Michigan households relying on natural gas, upgrading and modernizing pipeline infrastructure is necessary to ensure affordable and reliable supplies into the future.

With reliance on natural gas increasing nationwide, and future policies looking to further increase the demand, supporting the transportation and infrastructure of natural gas is critical. New and expanded pipeline capacity will become even more important to ensure that homes continue to have reliable and affordable heat and electricity when they need it.

Read more – Mackinac Center for Public Policy

State Lawmakers Call for Expanded Natural Gas Pipeline Network

Family in the Snow

Earlier, a group of bipartisan legislators in Pennsylvania spoke about the importance of modernizing our energy delivery infrastructure to make our region competitive for manufacturing and ensuring energy prices remain affordable for working families.

Bartolotta, who co-chairs the Gas and Oil Caucus in the state Senate, said it is “essential” that lawmakers support the “safe, responsible development of pipeline infrastructure so our commonwealth can reap the considerable economic benefits of these critical industries in the form of more jobs and lower energy costs to consumers.”

Read more – The Times

Top 5 News Stories in Energy This Week

energy
Renewables with Battery Storage

5U.S. Energy Storage Set to Double in 2019

After breaking numerous records in 2018, the U.S. energy storage industry is not stopping there. With increasing installation, like the 311 megawatts 711 megawatt-hours in Q4 of 2018, energy storage is estimated to double in 2019 and triple in 2020.  Both residential and utility-scale storage solutions are being unveiled, in 2018, 15,000 homes storage systems were installed – a 350% increase in megawatt terms from 2017. As storage capacity increases, there is great potential for capturing solar and wind energy to use at a later date and time.

LNG tanker

4U.S. Energy Dominance Good For National Security

In a recent trip to Houston for CERAWeek, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited the growing U.S. energy industry as one aiding the strengthening and security of our nation. With increasing production of oil and gas, as well as renewables like solar and wind, the United States is positioned to work with foreign countries to meet their energy needs. Many reports have suggested that the U.S. will become a net oil exporter over the next few years, and potentially passing Saudi Arabia for the top exporting spot.

Desert

3Small Modular Reactor Plant to be First of its Kind at Desert Site

NuScale Power is set to deploy the nation’s first small modular reactor plant at a desert site west of Idaho Falls. These modules are self-contained and will not require outside power to cool down or shut down. Currently the technology is undergoing the federal permitting process, but NuScale hopes to begin construction within the next few years and have the first module in operation by 2026. This project is said to generate enough power to power roughly 540,000 homes.

Large solar panel installation on rooftop

2Solar Energy Production Set to Take Off in Florida

At the end of 2018, solar energy production only made up 1.5% of Florida’s energy portfolio, behind other sources like natural gas. However, another 7,125 megawatts of solar generation are set for production based on data from the 10-year site plans for electric utilities across the state. State and federal incentives are helping jumpstart this growth, as the reduced cost of photovoltaic cells are an investment many are willing to take.

View of the Hoover Dam in Nevada, USA

1World’s Top Renewable Energy Producers

With technological advances and efficient cost-cutting methodology, renewable energy production has been able to grow across the world. Among the countries that are producing the most renewable energy includes: China (545.2GW), U.S. (214.7GW), Brazil (122.9GW), Germany (105.8GW), Canada (96.6GW) and India (90.7GW).

Consumer Group Applauds Bi-Partisan Measure in Support of Solar

Solar panel installation

Louisville, KY – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading consumer energy advocate, released the following statement after the final passage of Senate Bill 100 (SB 100), which would direct the Kentucky Public Service Commission to set incentive rates for new solar program participants that install rooftop solar and the additional power they generate back onto the grid.

“CEA would like to thank the Kentucky House of Representatives for its bipartisan support on this important measure which will help modernize the Commonwealth’s solar incentive program and expand the use of solar across Kentucky. It will also serve to protect existing customers and to expand the size of systems eligible to participate in the program by 50 percent,” said Brydon Ross, Vice President of State Affairs for CEA.

“CEA has long advocated for pro-solar, pro-grid and pro-consumer policies that will ensure the long-term viability and growth of solar deployment while also ensuring the costs to maintain our electric grid, which we all rely on, are fairly allocated.”

“Senate Bill 100 takes a common-sense approach by directing Kentucky’s Public Service Commission – the regulators with the technical expertise – to determine how best to expand solar use and the incentive rates for future customers. At a time when the solar industry is growing dramatically and seeing the cost of installations decrease, it is critical to set a solid framework to ensure solar’s growth and the proper maintenance of the grid for all electricity customers. These are all positive developments that will benefit consumers and small businesses who adopt solar, and the goal should be to ensure that we continue to grow, and deploy, solar and bring costs down.”

Ross added: “We want to thank Senator Brandon Smith for sponsoring this important bill and for the leadership of Representative Jim Gooch and Senator Jared Carpenter and the leadership in both chambers for advancing SB 100. It protects existing customers by grandfathering them in for 25 years and non-solar customers alike – this is a win for Kentucky consumers, families, and small businesses.”

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

What the Green New Deal Can Mean for Local Business, Residents

Mom and child taking a selfie

CEA’s Brydon Ross was recently interviewed by CBS about the $244 billion financial burden consumers will face as a result of the Green New Deal.

“A PR slogan doesn’t keep the lights on,” said Ross. “It doesn’t provide affordable reliable energy, and that’s what folks across the country need. While we transition to a cleaner future that people want, we got to be realistic about the timetables and the ability to do that within the windows of federal policy and the limits of what our policy can do.”

Read more – CBS 19

Colorado’s SB 19-181 an Economic Killer for the State’s Families, Businesses

DENVER — Today, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading consumer energy advocate, voiced concern and disapproval with Senate Bill 19-181 (SB-181), proposed legislation being fast-tracked in Colorado. This bill would dangerously curtail new oil and gas development, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs, decrease much-needed Colorado tax revenue and eliminate the bulk of the savings residents and businesses have seen in energy costs in recent years.

“Colorado is already the leader in air and water regulatory framework in the world. It’s also a leader in the safe, economical extraction of oil and natural gas, which has rejuvenated communities and helped families and businesses of all sizes reduce their once too-high energy expenses,” CEA Chief Operating Officer Andrew Browning, in Denver, said. “This ill-advised bill threatens to increase household energy expenses and hurt the livelihoods of people across the state by significantly reducing, or all-out eliminating, the production and transportation of safe, affordable energy made so close to home and the thousands of family-sustaining jobs they carry.”

“We also wondered where the state will go for revenue once the significant revenue from oil and gas production is lost. This should be a warning to every Colorado business and family that your taxes will need to be increased to offset this lost state revenue.”

Last fall, in a report, CEA showed how Colorado households and businesses saved nearly $12.4 billion between 2006 and 2016, courtesy of record oil and cleaner-burning natural gas production within the state and safer, state-of-the-art technologies. Industrial users saved more than $8 billion and residential users saved over $4.3 billion. Many of those families include the more than 10 percent of Coloradoans in poverty who regularly spend at least 22 percent of their income on energy expenses.

CEA’s analysis also found that the state’s oil and gas industries supported 232,900 workers, contributed over $31.4 billion to the state’s economy and accounted for nearly 10 percent of gross state product, supporting jobs in 50 the state’s 64 counties. Moreover, producers contributed roughly $1.2 billion to state budgets via property, income and severance taxes in addition to public land leases and royalties – all of which helped fund municipal services including school, road maintenance, and safety.

In contrast, a just-released study by the REMI Partnership revealed that if SB 19-181 reduced new oil and gas production by even 50 percent, Colorado would lose 120,000 jobs, more than $8 billion in state and local tax revenue and over $58 billion in GDP by 2030. In a worst-case scenario, which would include the elimination of all new oil and gas production, the state would lose 185,000 jobs, over $13.5 billion in state and local revenue and more than $257 billion in lost GDP by 2030, REMI reported.

“Creating legislation based on the desires of a vocal minority is not good governance. Our legislature should work with regulators and the industry to come to a middle ground that is good for all Coloradans. What we should be doing is educating our communities, not creating panic,” Browning said.

Browning added: “This bill offers no realistic solutions to how we meet growing consumer demand, fund much-needed municipal services and reduce energy costs for those who need it most. As the state’s population continues to grow, our communities will need more options for affordable, reliable energy needs.”

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

 

Green New Deal: A Proposal Floridians Cannot Afford

Household Chores Doing Laundry

CEA’s Kevin Doyle discusses how the Green New Deal would negatively impact Floridians from travel plans and tourism, to replacing current household appliances, which alone will cost Americans $244 billion.

One component of the proposal that’s garnered less attention is its underlined calls for upgrading virtually every existing building in the U.S., and everything inside, to “maximum energy efficiency” in just 10 years…The replacement costs for these four must-have appliances, in tens of millions of homes, would collectively cost Americans almost $244 billion.

Read more – Tallahassee Democrat

This Credit Card Bill Will Be the End of Me

Credit Card

Staying on top of the number of bills to pay these days is exhausting. Mortgage (or rent), car payments, gas and fuel, healthcare, student loans (or other loans), mobile phone, TV and internet, water, electric utilities, repair bills, pet bills, kid’s activities – the list seems never to end. Moreover, that doesn’t even include our regular purchases like groceries, eating out, and of course, non-essential services like Amazon or Netflix.

In a way though, that’s life. Our grandparents did it, and our parents did it too. Managing a budget isn’t new.

Something has happened in the last few decades, however, that has really changed our spending habits. Unlike before, more and more American’s are acquiring debt. While this once was viewed as a major faux pas, racking up credit card debt, and borrowing time to pay off big purchases, is the norm now. Plus, with the advent of points and miles from the credit card companies, instead of paying for products and services out-right credit card bills accumulate faster than expected.

While laying the blame squarely on credit card companies isn’t completely fair, several studies conclude that 7-8 out of 10 Americans hold and keep a credit card on them and according to the Federal Reserve, Americans owe more than $1 trillion in credit card debt.

Because we’re continually putting purchases on our credit cards, it becomes yet another bill to pay at the end of the month. Unlike monthly bills like our utilities, the tricky part with credit cards is they can rack up debt from interest quickly. About 44% of adults in the U.S. don’t pay their credit cards off at the end of each month, leaving on average an outstanding balance of $6,600. This is what is called revolving credit.

Unfortunately, lower-income Americans are the ones who often fall into this difficult-to-break habit, and their debt only increases, compounding the problem and ultimately preventing their goal of getting ahead on their monthly bills.

Even worse, some people have to pay their bills with their credit cards. According to Ruth Van Derostyne, founder and credit counselor at Financial Education Services, anyone looking to pay bills with credit cards “needs to be disciplined” and will be okay as long as they adhere to two rules:

  1. Always pay your balance in full, and on time, each month.
  2. Never put bills on a credit card because you can’t afford to pay them.

These two rules are important because debt compounds quickly and often leave consumers unable to pay down the principal. Suddenly, the balances are too large to pay off. That means being able to cover emergency expenses, last minute veterinary or medical bills, and higher than usual regular monthly bills. That includes energy – everything from the price of gas to home heating and cooling.

On average, Americans spend around $320 per month on electricity, natural gas, water, and garbage/recycling services. We spend about that same amount on TV/Internet and mobile phones. Considering one grouping is deemed essential, while the other is not, helps put things in perspective.

In comparison, energy prices are pretty darn low right now. ”Smart” technologies, Energy Star appliances, and new construction materials now allow you to turn your thermostat up or down from the push of a button on your phone, give you more control over moderating energy efficiency and helping to save consumers more money on heating and cooling costs.

So, the next time you look at the credit card bill, you can be thankful energy probably isn’t the culprit for its out-of-control growth, but for that to continue, we need to be thoughtful not only at the way we use energy but how we create policies around its use and development.

Farmers Should Care About Energy Development

Young man and his two sons on organic strawberry farm in summer, picking berries

CEA’s Kaitlin Schmidtke explores how additional energy development can help offer stability to farmers across the state, who spend about 30% of their annual expenses on energy each year.

There are many expenses that go into running a farm and ensuring profitability. That includes taxes, hiring and training labor, feed seed, livestock, fertilizer and pesticides. Farmers also need to account for fluctuating energy costs like fuel and electricity, which can account for up to 30 percent or more of expenses. These prices, like the weather, swiftly impact farm operations and bottom lines.

Read more – The Laurel Leader Call

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