U.S. Chamber Backs Senate Vote Against Energy Rationing

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The United States Chamber of Commerce backed the Senate's overwhelming defeat of the Climate Stewardship Act, which would have imposed energy rationing on U.S. businesses and citizens.

"We cannot expect to sustain our economic recovery if we restrict energy use by millions of businesses and families." said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president for environment, technology and regulatory affairs. "The best way to prevent blackouts at our schools, factories and homes is to provide affordable energy. You can't do that through energy rationing."

The bill, S. 139 sponsored by Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, would have forced virtually every sector of the economy to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions to 1990 levels. The U.S. Energy Information Agency projected that such a measure would lead to a 46 percent increase in the cost of electricity, a 27 percent increase in the cost of gasoline, and a 54 percent increase in the cost of home heating oil. EIA also estimates S. 139 would cost millions of Americans their jobs.

"We need to have better science to support any efforts to restrict energy use before Americans can justify sacrificing their jobs, quality of life, and paying almost double for their utility bills," said Kovacs.

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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