WASHINGTON – In a speech before the House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, John Engler, President of the National Association of Manufacturers, warned lawmakers against backsliding on energy policies “achieved after years of diligent, informed work and policy debate,” and said the Committee should not consider rolling back any part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct).
During the hearing on H.R. 2337, the “Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act of 2007,” Engler noted that the overwhelming bipartisan support of the EPAct – including many members of the House Natural Resources Committee – represented “the most significant, positive step in recent years in addressing energy market imbalances that have plagued manufacturing. Rolling back provisions within EPAct is demonstratively overlooking the best interests of our nation.”
Engler said that any discussion about U.S. energy independence or energy security must also consider the abundance of domestic resources available in the U.S.
“Lawmakers should not be seeking to favor one energy source over another, nor should it erect new barriers that discourage their development. Instead, we should be seeking a diverse, resilient, and reliable energy profile to stabilize costs and move the nation toward a more vibrant economy with jobs and opportunity for all,” Engler continued.
“You cannot separate energy, good jobs, and the economy,” he added.
Engler praised the role of technology in future energy development and provisions within H.R 2337 to encourage carbon capture and sequestration technology.
“Research and development is an essential part of how we strive for energy security,” Engler said. “Continuing in this spirit of innovation and forward-thinking policies will not only encourage technological progress, efficiency and safety, but will also hold the key to our stability and security.”
Click here for a copy of Engler’s oral testimony.
