Does Congressman Space Support Higher Electricity Rates?

Ohio 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 Space has an opportunity to take a second and closer look at this measure, as recent estimates suggest Ohio 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 0.3 percent of Ohio’s power, which would have to increase by 4,900 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 CongressmanSpace has a clear choice to make: side with hard-working Ohioans 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 Ohio, 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.

“Unfortunately, instead of focusing on expanding American energyproduction, our lawmakers are intent on imposing the largest energy taxin history – yet another in a series of heavy-handed policies thatdictate, rather than let the market determine, the types of energy weneed for our homes and businesses,” said Pyle.

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.

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