Washington, DC – The American Gas Association (AGA) today noted that the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” recognizes the importance of natural gas and the leading role U.S. natural gas customers have played in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home and at work.
“By using energy wisely and making smart choices every day, our customers have reduced their per-household consumption so dramatically that there has been virtually no growth in emissions in nearly three decades, despite a 70 percent increase in households using natural gas,” said David Parker, president and CEO of AGA.
In recognition of the achievements that natural gas customers have shown over the past four decades in terms of increased energy efficiency, the Waxman-Markey legislation does not bring residential and commercial natural gas customers under the cap-and-trade system until 2016.
“We will continue to work with Chairman Waxman and the Energy and Commerce Committee to ensure that our customers are protected from increased energy costs,” Parker said. “We look forward to working with the Congress as they consider climate change legislation that strives to improve our environment and energy security, while also encouraging the increased use of clean, abundant, American natural gas.”
Parker stressed that natural gas can play a major part in the climate solution in that it can have an immediate impact in reducing carbon emissions because it has the smallest carbon footprint of all fossil fuels.