NAM says bill aims to raise energy supply, lower costs

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) welcomed legislation introduced by Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and John Peterson (R-Pennsylvania) to increase domestic energy production as “an important step forward to help lower energy costs for manufacturers, their employees and consumers,” according to NAM president and CEO John Engler.

“We view introduction of H.R. 6709, the ‘National Conservation, Environment and Energy Security Act’ as a clear sign that a growing, bipartisan group of lawmakers is heeding the call by American consumers to increase supplies of domestic energy. This bill removes barriers on energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and promotes energy diversity by removing restrictions on biomass and oil shale, to strengthen America’s energy security,” Engler said. “This country is facing an energy crisis. We must take every opportunity to tap America’s own abundant energy resources to lower prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Let’s allow our innovative manufacturing companies to demonstrate that America has the ingenuity to extract and develop energy resources in an environmentally sound way. Reps. Abercrombie and Peterson and their colleagues on both sides of the aisle have demonstrated their commitment to increasing domestic energy supply and lowering America’s energy bill with their proposal. They recognize the contribution that development of 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas on the OCS -- which is enough natural gas to heat 100 million American homes for 60 years -- will make toward energy independence and economic growth.”

The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NAM has 11 additional offices across the country. Visit www.nam.org for more information about manufacturing and the economy.