Natural gas already is reducing US greenhouse gas emissions more effectively than what congressional Democrats proposed in their Green New Deal Resolution, US Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, said on Feb. 14.
“If the Green New Deal is a dream for the left, it is a nightmare for the American people. It would force middle-class families to tear down their houses, pay higher electricity bills, get rid of their cars, and give up their jobs,” the senator said.
“The good news is that the United States is successfully reducing emissions by investing in cleaner burning natural gas,” Cassidy said. “This has created high-paying jobs in Louisiana and the US, from wellheads to export terminals. The US is demonstrating to the world that families can have lower utility bills, a cleaner environment, and better jobs.”
Gas not only has reduced GHGs by replacing coal in many power plants, but it also supports deployment of renewable sources by providing a quickly reacting backup, Cassidy argued in a white paper that he issued.
“According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a 1% increase in the share of a fast-reacting power source is associated with a 0.88% long-term increase in renewable generation. Investment in natural gas is able and necessary to support the increased use of renewables,” he said.
US Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) jointly introduced the Green New Deal Resolution in the Senate and House on Feb. 7. Support from environmental and other organizations has continued to grow, Markey said 6 days later.
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