U.S. Chamber Calls for National Energy Strategy

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The United States Chamber of Commerce called on Congress and the Bush administration to take swift action to develop a national energy policy that fuels economic growth and reduces dependence on foreign energy supplies.

"The United States sits on a treasure of energy resources and yet we are the only major industrialized nation that significantly limits access to our own resources," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber president and CEO, opening the Chamber's two-day National Energy Summit. "If we don't change our attitude, it is only a matter of time before the California crisis reaches every corner of the country."

Despite significant advances in energy efficiency, demand for energy is rapidly outstripping supply. Power demand is rising by 10,000 megawatts a year, but only 7,000 to 8,000 megawatts of new power are coming on line each year. No major oil refinery has been built in the United States for 25 years.

"We already import 55 percent of our oil supply, and at the rate we are going, we will import 64 percent by 2020," said Donohue. "To limit foreign dependence and strengthen our energy infrastructure, we need to invest in new refineries, power plants, natural gas and oil pipelines, electricity transmission lines and energy storage facilities."

Donohue outlined a five-point plan to address the nation's long-term energy needs, including dramatic expansion of the nation's energy infrastructure, more reliance on abundant domestic energy resources, increased conservation efforts, development of alternative and renewable energy sources, and changing public attitudes about the way energy is produced and delivered.

"The public can rest assured that energy development will not come at the expense of the environment," said Donohue. "Indeed, America has the cleanest environment of all the developed nations due in large part to the nearly $2 trillion investment the business community has made in environmental protection since 1972."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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