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Energy Policy
Keystone XL Pipeline
Canada has always been an important supplier of resources to America. In fact, Canada is the single largest source of our imported oil. But there is an opportunity to access even more oil that Canada wants to sell to the U.S. and replace imports from unfriendly countries.
Gas prices are a key concern to our economic well-being, but we also need to worry about the countries we rely on for oil. Currently America relies too much on the Middle East, Nigeria, Angola, and South American dictator Hugo Chavez for our oil supply. Increasing our oil supply from a friendly neighbor like Canada will have positive effects on our nation's energy security. The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline will help accomplish that goal by dramatically increasing oil imports sands from Canada to American refineries.
The federal government must take action to allow the building of the Keystone XL pipeline to get Canadian oil sands to American refineries; however, the Obama administration has been delaying the construction of the pipeline since 2008. Fortunately, the State Department is in the final stages of determining whether to approve a permit for the pipeline.
If America passes up this opportunity to build the pipeline, Canada will find another market for its oil, and the thousands of refinery, construction and related jobs that go with it.
Almost 1,000 U.S. companies in 47 states are suppliers of materials, equipment, or services to support Canadian oil sands production. According to the Canadian Energy Research Institute, the development of oil sands in Canada will have an economic impact leading to more than 342,000 new American jobs in the next five years and add $34 billion to U.S. gross domestic product in 2015. The infrastructure to transport Canadian oil to the U.S. will also mean more tax revenue for state and local governments to fund critical services. Although the project doesn't run through New Jersey, we will see the benefits by getting energy from a reliable and dependable trading partner and increased economic development.
Click here to contact the U.S. Department of State and tell them America needs to reduce oil imports from the Middle East!
Governor Repeals Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
In a surprise announcement, Governor Christie has indicated New Jersey will withdraw itself from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by year's end.
RGGI is a 10-state program which created the nation's first cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases. NJFC attended the Governor's press conference where he stated "This program is not effective in reducing greenhouse gases and is unlikely to be in the future. The whole system is not working as it was intended to work. It's a failure."
NJFC has been supportive of a RGGI pull-out due to the costs borne by ratepayers in their electric bills to fund the cap-and-trade program. "Energy is the third highest cost to supermarkets and food retailers behind only product and labor. Our stores require the most amount of power out of any retail format due to cooling, lighting, storage and other requirements. Although the concept of RGGI was innovative, the Governor correctly pointed out that the market system it set up was not functioning properly. RGGI ended up being a back door energy tax that raised costs for all New Jerseyans but did little to reduce pollution," said NJFC President Linda Doherty in reaction to the Governors withdrawal from RGGI.
Below are links to the Department of Environmental Protection's RGGI Program Overview, and Governor Chris Christie's May 2011 video and transcript of New Jersey's repeal of RGGI.
NJDEP Office of Climate and Energy: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initative (RGGI)
Governor Christie: New Jersey's Future is Green
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