Global Energy Institute Introduces New American Energy: Cleaner, Stronger Agenda

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute (GEI) has rolled out its American Energy: Cleaner, Stronger agenda aimed at promoting continued economic growth and environmental progress through a sustained focus on technology development and innovation in the energy industry.

The initiative will highlight the technologies, people, and companies making investments in the nation’s energy sector and will advocate for energy policies that further a bipartisan mission to spur innovation, lower emissions, and foster economic growth. A new poll of likely 2020 voters conducted by FTI Consulting and released by GEI in April shows Americans overwhelmingly support an innovation-driven cleaner, stronger approach over policies centered on expanded government regulation.

“The U.S. energy industry has been among the most innovative sectors of the economy, and will continue to be making America cleaner and stronger,” said Christopher Guith, acting president of the U.S. Chamber’s Global Energy Institute. He comments that energy companies are investing in innovation and technology that is making America’s air cleaner even as the economy strengthens and energy security increases. “Our American Energy: Cleaner, Stronger agenda presents a realistic alternative to addressing energy and environmental issues that has broad bipartisan public support.”

The telephone survey of 1000 likely 2020 voters across the U.S. was fielded from March 7 to 12, 2019. Among the results: 73% of voters support a cleaner, stronger energy agenda that uses more American energy and continues environmental progress, compared to 21% of voters who support the Green New Deal. Eighty nine percent of Americans support using American energy resources responsibly, including domestic natural gas, oil, nuclear, coal, and renewable resources. Seventy nine percent agree that the best way to address climate change is through investments in innovation and technology.

Seventy nine percent of voters support stream- lining or expediting the permitting process to improve, modernize, or construct critical energy infrastructure like renewables, pipelines, power plants, transmission lines, and export facilities. Only 15% of voters think it is highly feasible to require all aspects of the U.S. economy to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years—including in all electricity generation, vehicles, agriculture, homes, commercial buildings, and manufacturing— regardless of cost.

“Our new survey demonstrates that voters are concerned about energy and the environment, but they are also concerned about the costs and practicality of an approach to those issues driven primarily by government regulation,” said Guith.

“Given the current state of technology, a regulatory approach involves significant price increases. Our focus is on developing technologies that can reduce environmental impacts and compete on price and reliability.”

In coming months, GEI will advocate for federal policies and investments that spur research and development of energy technologies. The institute will also con- duct a public education campaign that includes its existing Energy Innovates initiative. It will highlight specific projects and technologies and the innovators, engineers, and manufacturers behind their development. Other components include advertising, social media, live events, and grass-roots outreach that will reach GEI’s network of state and local Chamber of Commerce allies, policymakers, civic and business leaders, and voters.

(SOURCE: The

, May 13, 2019)