Business Organizations, Labor Urge President Biden to Prioritize Natural Gas Development

Ahead of President Biden’s sweeping announcement on climate policy last week, the PA Chamber added its voice to a coalition of industry and labor calling on the president to incorporate and promote the development of natural gas as a key component to his administration’s plan to lower carbon emissions.

A letter co-authored by the PA Chamber, Marcellus Shale Coalition, PA Manufacturers Association and Pittsburgh Works Together (a coalition of industry and labor organizations in the Pittsburgh region) – highlights the significant positive impact the natural gas industry has had on Pennsylvania’s economy, as well as lowering overall emissions.

“The workers and local small businesses driving the economy and helping to build America back are essential to a low carbon future which cannot be achieved without an affordable and reliable source of clean energy. Natural gas is, and should continue to be, the key to our country’s environmental progress……Here in Pennsylvania, volatile organic compounds tied to power generation declined 40 percent between 2005-2018 and other pollutants like sulfur oxides (Sox) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels dropped 93 and 81 percent respectively, according to state Department of Environmental Protection data,” the letter stated.

In a media availability, PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Kevin Sunday noted innovation by the private sector has transformed how energy is currently being used – creating jobs, growing the economy and lowering emissions in the process – and emphasized that support of the industry is crucial to the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

“Natural gas helped us get through the last recession 12 years ago and it will help us pull out of this pandemic,” he said.

The letter was noted in articles in the Pittsburgh Business Times, Pennsylvania Business Report and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The following day, President Biden unveiled his plan to reduce emissions by up to 52 percent by 2030.  This new initiative is in addition to the goals of the Paris Agreement, which the president rejoined his first day in office, which aims to have zero net emissions by the participating countries by 2050.

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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.