Letter to Senator Vitter Supporting the “3-D, Domestic Jobs, Domestic Energy, and Deficit Reduction Act of 2011”

The Honorable David Vitter
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Vitter:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, strongly supports the “3-D, Domestic Jobs, Domestic Energy, and Deficit Reduction Act of 2011” (the “3-D Act”). The Energy Information Administration estimates that energy demand in the United States could grow by more than 30 percent between now and 2035; the 3-D Act helps meet growing demand by removing barriers that delay the regulatory approval process for new energy projects.

The Chamber’s Project No Project initiative (www.projectnoproject.com) has identified 351 proposed renewable, coal, natural gas, nuclear, and transmission projects in 49 states that have been delayed or cancelled due to “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY) activism, a broken permitting process, and a calcified regulatory system that allows for limitless lawsuits by opponents of development. The Chamber recently released a first-of-its-kind economic study concluding that the construction phase alone for these 351 projects could yield $1.1 trillion in GDP and 1.9 million jobs annually. Construction of only the largest project in each state would generate $449 billion in economic value and 572,000 annual jobs.

The 3-D Act helps remove many of the typical Project No Project barriers by removing the red tape that stands in the way of progress: the bill streamlines permits, stops Executive Branch inaction on oil and gas leases, cuts back on activists’ use of environmental laws to stop projects, and requires federal agencies to consider economic and employment impacts when they make regulations. The Chamber strongly supports the 3-D Act and stands ready to work with you to improve the nation’s economy by increasing domestic energy production.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten