Natural Allies Statement on Energy Infrastructure Amid Dangerous Nationwide Heat Wave
(Washington, DC) – As extreme heat spreads across the country, Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future Executive Director Susan Waller issued the following statement:
“In the midst of intense weather events across the country, it is critical that we examine the energy crisis that is affecting American communities nationwide. Extreme temperatures are placing unprecedented demand on the country’s electric grid, leaving thousands of homes and businesses vulnerable amongst the serious environmental changes.
These challenges can’t be fixed overnight and we needed to act yesterday. Our current energy landscape, including years of political and regulatory delays for building new infrastructure, leaves us susceptible to reliability and affordability risks during periods of extreme demand. We need to be able to move quickly to scale up and deliver clean, affordable energy including natural gas, which creates about 40 percent of our nation’s electricity.
Advancing permitting reform to build the pipes and wires quickly, in a balanced strategy of renewables and natural gas, can ensure every individual and business has access to safe, dependable power during times when they need it most.
Across the country, communities continue to face soaring utility bills as the summer heat rises, forcing households to choose between cooling their homes or putting food on the table. The politics on these issues are changing amidst these simultaneous crises. The time to act is now. Supporting natural gas production and infrastructure investment will help address the affordability crisis and deliver a balanced power grid to maintain both reliability and affordability for every American, especially during periods of extreme weather.”
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