Policy Resolution ETE-25-17

WHEREAS, U.S. natural gas is an abundant and secure domestic energy source that supports over 4.1 million jobs, and is currently used by 60 percent of American households according to the American Gas Association;

WHEREAS, natural gas fuels America’s industrial and manufacturing base for steel, cement, and fertilizer production which depend on stable, reliable and affordable energy, that can help reshore our manufacturing base, enhance local economic development, and promote job creation;

WHEREAS, 43 percent of U.S. electric power in 2023 was generated from natural gas, followed by nuclear power (18 percent), coal (16 percent), wind (10 percent) and hydropower (5 percent) according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration;

WHEREAS, the U.S. Energy Information Administration has found that natural gas replacing coal power plants across the country is directly responsible for over 61 percent of America’s world-leading carbon emissions reduction since 2005;

WHEREAS, the U.S. has within a short period of time become the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which has helped to secure America’s democratic allies with reliable energy, and offset fast-growing coal use in developing countries;

WHEREAS, communities of color in the U.S. are most at risk for negative climate impacts, including 1.6 times more likely to experience property loss from severe flooding and 67 percent more likely to experience heat-related ER visits according to McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility;

WHEREAS, renewable carbon-free sources of power like wind and solar, along with battery storage technologies, show exciting opportunities to responsibly expand options and help decarbonize the grid;

WHEREAS, Black households are currently 2.2 times more likely to struggle to pay for food and medicine due to existing energy bills according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and energy insecurity impacts have negative health and education outcomes according to data analyzed by Columbia University;

WHEREAS, policymakers should focus their efforts on comprehensive, practical, low-carbon energy policies that maintain affordability, ensure reliability, and drive down emissions with fuel sources that are domestically secure and can scale up quickly to meet evolving energy needs; and

WHEREAS, data from Pew Research Center shows that 68 percent of Americans agree with using a mix of fossil fuels and renewables to meet our energy needs.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes that natural gas is a large source of energy production in the United States and has contributed to a reduction in carbon emissions, and can support a responsible transition to carbon-free sources like wind, solar and battery technology, without sacrificing reliability and affordability for businesses and communities alike; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NBCSL supports the continued investment in energy infrastructure that ensures energy costs are affordable to consumers in the near and long-term while meeting growing demands in the years ahead.

• Resolution ID: ETE-25-17
• Sponsored by: Rep. Laura Hall (AL)
• Policy Committee: Energy, Transportation, and Environment (ETE)