Congressman Keller defends American energy, slams sweeping federal mandates that will hike prices, harm U.S. competitiveness

July 21, 2021

Press Release

Advocates for an 'all-of-the-above' energy approach led by private sector innovation

Washington, D.C. - During today's House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) highlighted the benefits of domestic energy production, arguing that the future of American energy independence will require a combination of fossil fuels and renewables.

Throughout his testimony, Keller noted technological improvements made by private sector companies in the oil and gas industry which have reduced greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing productivity or increasing costs on consumers. By contrast, Keller indicated that government-led initiatives like the Green New Deal would lead to higher energy costs on American families while also putting the United States at a competitive disadvantage in global energy production.

(Click to watch)

Keller's full remarks are below:

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that domestic energy production has grown substantially in the past decade, largely thanks to investments in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.

Since 1990, the oil and gas industry has reduced methane emissions by 23 percent while simultaneously increasing production by 71 percent. As of 2019, petroleum and natural gas make up nearly 70 percent of the energy we use annually.

The area I represent in northeast Pennsylvania produces up to 10 percent of the nation's dry natural gas on any given day - contributing an enormous amount of economic activity, job growth, and energy savings to our local communities.

By contrast, and despite billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies, renewable energy's share of the consumption market has grown by only 4 percent in the past 60 years. America cannot just simply shift from fossil fuels to renewables via sweeping federal mandates. The result would be significant job losses and more reliance on foreign energy to power our lives.

Proposals such as the Green New Deal would necessitate significant increases in renewable energy such as hydroelectric, solar, and wind. However, according to the American Energy Alliance, the entire world does not have the mining ability to produce the required materials.

Additionally, the Election Power Research Institute expects the price of electricity to at least double as a result of President Biden's energy policies. It is clear that America's energy independence will require an all-of-the-above approach to energy that employs renewables such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric to complement fossil fuels.

Thank you and I yield back.

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