Former Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Highlighted Natural Gas as Solution to Energy Affordability Issues Facing Hispanic Communities During Panel Discussion

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA): “We do have a bright future with renewables and batteries, but we need a future of affordable and reliable energy. I’m anxious to move us greener, but we have to do it smarter. Natural gas is both clean and affordable.”

(Washington, D.C.) – On Wednesday, November 20, Natural Allies Leadership Council Co-Chair, former Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), joined a panel conversation entitled, Balancing Power Demand, Energy Transition, and Affordability: The Future of Oil, Gas, and Utilities at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)’s 2024 Fall Symposium. The session focused on how to increase energy affordability and reliability, especially in low- and moderate-income communities, while reducing emissions and getting back on track to achieve our climate goals.  

“Energy and climate change are probably the two most important challenges in our country and around the world today,” said Sen. Landrieu (D-LA). “The truth is that we are not meeting our emissions goals because we’ve been focused on the wrong problem. Our problem is not fossil fuels – it is emissions. We need to eliminate emissions. If we could change our politics, come together as a country and engage with the energy industry, we would have a much better chance of meeting our climate goals. I believe that starts with natural gas.”

Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) was joined by a knowledgeable and diverse panel that included Representative Darren Soto (D-FL); Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA); Rafael Paz Lopez, Manager, Reserves Compliance & Reporting, Conoco Phillips; Scott Salmon, Senior Corporate Relations Manager, Tax and Gas & Power Markets, Shell USA; and Neel Brown, Managing Director, The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). The panel was moderated by News4 Washington reporter, Juliana Valencia.

Meanwhile, Brown provided data identifying U.S. regions that are most energy insecure – currently sacrificing food and medicine to pay energy bills – which are disproportionately impacting minority communities. Specifically, he highlighted the challenges of building new pipelines in cities like Boston, and how this made the city dependent on Russian natural gas. Since the war in Ukraine began, Boston residents have experienced an exorbitant increase in energy prices.

“Our data is showing that in an era of increasing energy demand, some environmental activists are insisting that cities constrain their supply of natural gas, either through denial of new natural gas pipelines or dismantling existing infrastructure,” Brown explained. “Those choices will not only increase this energy burden disproportionately on Black and Brown communities, but in many cities in the northeast it’s already happening. The energy transition needs more than replacement of existing sources, we need an expansion.”

Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) echoed this perspective, calling for “smarter policies.”

“People are paying a lot higher energy rates in California and the Northeast. The middle of the country is relatively low. You’re not supposed to pay more than 25% of your earnings to electricity. If you are, how are you going to pay for food or rent?”  

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Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future is a 501c4 not for profit organization that seeks to better inform the public and policy makers about why natural gas is best partnered with renewable power sources to accelerate our clean energy goals. Among the industry leaders supporting Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future are: The Williams Companies, Kinder Morgan, TC Energy, EQT, National Fuel Gas, Enbridge Inc., Southern Company Gas, Solar Turbines a Caterpillar Company, Quanta Services, Inc., the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers, Pipe Line Contractors Association, American Pipeline Contractors Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and American Public Gas Association (APGA). To learn more visit: naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org.  

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization in the country dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders®. CHCI provides leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding Latino/a/x students and young professionals, and convenes Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community. Visit CHCI.org and follow us @CHCI on social media.