Environmental Leader

The National Association of Manufacturers has unveiled an energy strategy, Energy Security for American Competitiveness, that the organization says is designed to diversify the nation’s energy mix and lay a foundation for meeting the nation’s energy needs in the future.

“Many dream of energy security, but the NAM’s strategy lays a solid foundation to make that dream a reality,” said NAM President John Engler.  “Nothing short of a robust, aggressive, and comprehensive energy strategy will adequately address our energy security needs.”

The Energy Security for American Competitiveness proposal includes action items such as:

• Setting goals for U.S. energy efficiency,
• Raising energy intelligence of the American public,
• Strengthening research and development projects,
• Streamlining existing statutes and regulations,
• Increasing U.S. electricity generation, and
• Diversifying and increasing domestic energy supply .

“Higher energy prices hurt manufacturing especially hard because manufacturing is heavily dependent on energy,” Engler said. “But it also hurts those with the most to lose – senior citizens, small businesses, and families. No one can escape the resounding effects of high energy costs – from the cost of filling up the family vehicle, to rising prices at your local grocery store, to the loss of good paying American jobs, or the rising cost squeeze in family budgets.”

“Our nation’s energy security will be a deciding factor in the elections of 2008,” Engler continued.  “I urge each lawmaker who is serious about keeping American competitive to address the issues we have outlined today and support legislation advancing the components of this strategy.”