Archive for August, 2012

Fixed Income

In this fragile economy, many Americans are on tight budgets. People are still working on trying to balance their finances to keep their families on track and make ends meet. One area where Americans can’t afford to spend more is on energy. In 2011, more than half of U.S. households devoted more than 20 percent of their family budget on energy costs.

A few weeks ago, we spoke with the people of Red Springs, North Carolina. In North Carolina, the 2.1 million households earning less than $50,000 annually spend 23 percent of their income on energy. To the people of Red Springs, any increase in electricity prices would make a huge difference to their already tight family budgets.

With EPA regulations coming rapidly down the pipe, thousands of American families are risk for rising electricity prices. Hasty regulations will slow the recovery of our economy, and put thousands of jobs at risk. For many Americans, this is simply something we can’t afford.

Share the people of Red Spring’s story with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter.

30 August 2012, 11:12 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 comment »

Coal and the Republican National Convention

I’m in Tampa for the Republican National Convention this week, and I’ve been excited to see that coal is on people’s minds. The acknowledged truth on the ground here is clear: coal is under attack. Delegates feel this administration has been acting against coal by doing nothing to stop sweeping regulations that threaten the entire coal-based electricity industry.

Recently, I spoke about it on former Gov. Mike Huckabee’s radio program. And Congressional candidate Andy Barr summed it up when he talked about the plight of the Kentucky coal industry while speaking at the convention:

Beyond the rolling hills of the Bluegrass, within the depths of steep mountainsides, Kentuckians built a coal industry that powers America… Rarely in history has one industry been so ruthlessly attacked with so little regard for the people it hurts.

We’ll be heading to Charlotte later this week, where Democrats who know about our issues will work to add some sense to the EPA’s position against coal. Regardless of party, in the 69 days leading up to the election, securing our energy future, and keeping costs low for families and small businesses, should be an issue on everyone’s minds.

29 August 2012, 4:19 pm | Posted in In the States, National Affairs, Policy and Legislation | No comments »

America’s Power in Tampa

There is no way of knowing what our legislature will look like next year. The shifting landscape after an election, with local, state and national leaders potentially changing, means we need to ensure that all candidates are focused on ensuring the best possible energy mix for the United States.

That’s why we’re at the RNC this week meeting and educating thousands of party members looking to find out about the importance of a homegrown American energy portfolio.

That mix—an “all of the above” policy—must include coal.  We need to be utilizing our country’s most abundant natural resource rather than regulating it into oblivion.

The EPA has undertaken regulations that are making it difficult for America’s most abundant, affordable fuel to be used in our own country. Because of those EPA regulations, the reliable baseload power of coal-based electricity in this country could be threatened, even in the near-term.

This week, we’ll be at the RNC and DNC conventions to spread the word: The EPA needs to go back to the drawing board. Now is the time for this country to be utilizing its abundance of coal. If you want to stay in the know about convention-specific coverage, sign up to receive updates from America’s Power.

28 August 2012, 12:41 pm | Posted in Energy Independence, In the States, National Affairs, Policy and Legislation | No comments »

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