WASHINGTON (March 22, 2023) — The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement before an expected House floor vote next week on H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, introduced by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR), and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO).
“The Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) advances key national priorities. This legislation will strengthen America’s energy and economic security while helping to spur innovation and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We applaud its strategies to boost production of diverse energy sources; build and update infrastructure; modernize the permitting process; secure supplies of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials; and end future delays in chemical substance review for critical energy resources.
“Robust natural gas supplies and transport are essential to the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing. This includes the chemistry industry, which provides inputs for many applications that help society save energy and reduce emissions. Solar panels and wind turbines, advanced battery storage, electric vehicles (EVs) and lightweight vehicle parts, and high-performance building solutions are good examples. As new energy sources (e.g., wind, solar) continue to come online with expanded access, natural gas can support a reliable and resilient energy delivery system.
“Energy production, energy infrastructure, and manufacturing projects face a maze of permitting requirements at the federal, state, and local levels. Meanwhile, the permitting process for some potential and emerging lower-emissions technologies (e.g., clean hydrogen, CCUS) is a work in progress and will need attention. Permitting reform needs to unlock the energy and climate resources provided under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other authorities.
“ACC advocates for policies to encourage a diverse mix of energy resources and technologies, promote innovation, strengthen U.S. competitiveness, and modernize the permitting process for energy and manufacturing projects of all kinds. The Lower Energy Costs Act advances each of these goals.”
