Does Congressman Cao Support Higher Electricity Rates?

Louisiana electricity rates to sky rocket under plan pending before Congress

Washington, DC – With only days remaining until the U.S. House of Representatives casts an historic up-or-down vote on one of the largest tax hikes in the history of Congress, Congressman Joe Cao (R-La.) has yet to state publicly where he stands on this measure – even as recent estimates suggest Louisiana families could be among the hardest hit.

Under this proposal, the federal government would mandate increased use of expensive, unreliable forms of power, which currently represent a mere 2.8 percent of the nation’s overall electricity usage. In total, less efficient renewable electricity accounts for 3.1 percent of Louisiana’s power, which would have to increase by 388.6 percent by 2020 to reach this 15 percent mandate.

“Though the Washington politics on cap-and-trade may be complicated,the local consequences of this policy could not be morestraight-forward,” said Thomas J. Pyle, president of the AmericanEnergy Alliance. “For it to work, and work properly, Americans’ energybills must go up – hard, fast, and forever. That means Congressman Caohas a clear choice to make: side with hard-working Louisianans andsmall businesses, or support out-of-the-mainstream, Washingtonspecial-interests.

“President Obama has said this legislation will ‘necessarily increase the cost of electricity.’By all accounts, increasing electricity costs in Louisiana, while smalltowns and working-class families continue to suffer, will devastatefamily budgets and force businesses to shut their doors.”

Currently, 34 states enforce so-called “renewable portfoliostandards” – Washington-speak for government-enforced mandates thatfavor less-affordable, less-reliable electricity.  On average,residential electricity rates are 38 percent higher and industrialrates are 50 percent higher in these states.

“Louisianans deserve to know where Congressman Cao stands on thiscritical issue,” continued Pyle. “Unfortunately, instead of focusing onexpanding American energy production, our lawmakers are intent onimposing the largest energy tax in history – yet another in a series ofheavy-handed policies that dictate, rather than let the marketdetermine, the types of energy we need for our homes and businesses.”

The American Energy and Security Act of 2009, which includesboth a cap-and-trade regime and renewable electricity mandate, does notproduce a single unit of energy and further weakens our nation’soverall energy security. The U.S. House is scheduled to vote on thelegislation the week of June 22.

More on Renewable Electricity Mandates:

·        Fact Sheet: Renewable Electricity Mandates, Pay More for Less
·        Interactive map: How much of your electricity is generated from politically correct sources?

*Numbers are rounded to the nearest tenth percent.

The American Energy Alliance (AEA) is a not-for-profitorganization that engages in public policy advocacy and debatesurrounding the function, operation, and government regulation ofglobal energy markets. AEA, an affiliate of the Institute for EnergyResearch, works to educate and mobilize citizens around the idea thatfreely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient andeffective solutions to today’s global energy and environmentalchallenges.

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