Consumers for Competitive Choice, a diverse national coalition that supports a strong, vibrant and consumer-focused economy, today called on members of the U.S. Senate to oppose any energy legislation that mandates renewable energy standards.
In a letter to senators Robert K. Johnson, president of C4CC, noted that while responsible deployment of alternative energy resources is necessary, it cannot come at the expense of American consumers, particularly those Americans who are on fixed incomes. The full text of the letter is as follows:
The American Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the House last month will drastically affect consumers and the economy. The federal mandate, as described in the bill, for a one size fits all Renewable Energy Standard will raise utility bills for businesses and households alike. Unfortunately the fate of families and businesses will depend on geography alone.
We support the responsible deployment of alternative energy resources and energy efficiency measures. However during this period of widespread economic hardship it is irresponsible for Congress to pass a bill that will be so damaging to so many state economies. Not all states have equal access to renewable energy resources, in fact, each state is different. For the consumers who happen to reside in a state with less wind or solar energy, utility bills may increase as much as 20%.
Not only will consumers be affected based on their region but at-risk energy consumers will be disproportionately affected. Energy and electricity are a necessity in America today and as a result low income and minority families spend a large percentage of their money on utilities. These families depend on realistic utility bills that reflect the use of their electricity not the cost of purchasing renewable energy from neighboring states.
Additionally, those Americans who have labored hard throughout their lives and now depend on a fixed income will be hit disproportionally hard by this new energy tax. When planning for retirement our seniors never anticipated that they would be being paying 20% higher electric bills so that their state of residency can purchase windmill produced power from other states. Renewable Energy Standards threaten to throw a spike in the financial independence many seniors struggle their entire lives to enjoy. This concern rings true not only for seniors but for all people who depend on a fixed income.
Several states have done their part mandating their own Renewable Energy Standards that are tailored to their capacity to generate the energy. This has promoted energy competition which has resulted in affordable energy for consumers. Regrettably some in Congress have not recognized these efforts and are instead pushing a requirement of one broad sweeping single mandate without taking into account the states that simply cannot produce renewable energy at their rate and using the sources they have deemed to be renewable.
I urge you to think of your constituents when voting on this bill and consider the increase in utility bills that will result in the passage of such a high and unequal federal Renewable Energy Standard.