The Empowerment Alliance (TEA) believes that natural gas is the affordable, reliable and clean energy source that should serve as the benchmark by which all other energy sources are measured. Thankfully, we’ve already got leaders who get it, like Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry who recently signed a proclamation recognizing the Energy Security ARC benefits of natural gas.
American natural gas is the answer to a truly clean future that both meets our energy needs and builds on the success of lowering emissions and protecting our environment. We need more leaders like Gov. Landry that embrace the Energy Security ARC as the path to our energy future.
'Consumer-first approach'
As the Consumer Energy Alliance puts it, Gov. Landry's resolution is a "consumer-first approach that sets a powerful precedent.”
TEA strongly echoes that sentiment and believes that other states should follow suit with an Energy Security ARC. Gov. Landry demonstrates a similar bold vision as Ohio unveiled in January 2023, and reinforced by Rep. Troy Balderson's resolution in the House earlier this year that seeks to label natural gas an affordable and "green" energy source. On April 12, 2023, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill into law that redefines natural gas as one of 17 sources of "clean energy."
A better energy option
That's three down and 47 more states to go. Those states' governors and legislators need to wake up and realize this is the proper course of action. Natural gas will help power data centers that are being built across the country, as long as the infrastructure is in place. It also provides existing homes, family farms and businesses with affordable, reliable and clean energy.
It also acts as a necessary pushback to the green-at-any-cost agenda driven by wind and solar companies and the extremist politicians who don't have the common sense to understand the intrinsic value of natural gas.
This proclamation also points out several necessary components, including "the U.S. recognizing that natural gas is necessary for our energy independence, providing for natural gas infrastructure and removing barriers to the production of natural gas."
Finally, Gov. Landry reinforces that Louisiana opposes efforts to limit, delay or ban the approval of new and existing liquefied natural gas export facilities in the state and across the nation.
Leadership shown
Not surprisingly, Gov. Landry has been at the forefront of energy policies that will benefit present and future generations of Louisiana households and manufacturers. In February he signed a proclamation saying that the oil and natural gas industry was open for business.
Additionally, Gov. Landry signed an executive order directing the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality to streamline the permitting process with the oil and gas industry. Further, he is committed to the industry working to produce cleaner energy. Gov. Landry and Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire last month established the Governor’s Coalition for Energy Choice, an alliance of a dozen governors focused on creating policies to help Americans tackle high energy costs and energy-induced inflation.
By the numbers
It only makes sense that Gov. Landry and Louisiana lead the way in this arena. Louisiana is a premier energy producing state:
- Louisiana ranks third highest in marketed natural gas production and seventh in proved natural gas reserves.
- It accounts for about 10% of U.S. total marketed natural gas production and holds about 6% of the nation's natural gas reserves.
- The U.S. was the world's largest liquefied natural gas exporter in 2023, with Louisiana handling 61% of the exports.
From a consumer standpoint, consider that Louisiana's total energy consumption ranks fourth among the states and its per capita energy consumption is the second highest in the nation, largely because of the energy-intensive chemical, petroleum and natural gas industries in the state's industrial sector.
Energy consumption in that sector, about 70% of the state total, is second only to that of Texas. Every facet of Louisianans' lives, from transportation and agriculture to residential and small businesses, rely on the state to produce and distribute affordable, reliable and clean energy.
Gov. Landry's formal declaration also is a promise to Louisiana's 4.5 million residents. It's one that 47 other states should emulate. West Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania come to mind, as they were among the top five natural gas producing states in 2022.
The Empowerment Alliance was formed in 2019 to offer common-sense energy solutions that promote production and consumption of Affordable, Clean, Reliable natural gas. We believe that our nation’s energy independence is essential for America’s independence.
