Development in North America useful in various ways
Written by John Meyer
Growing and strengthening America’s economy should be the top priority for policymakers in Washington. One way to help achieve economic recovery is by supporting job creating projects like the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s really too bad that this and other energy projects are being used to play political football.
Business owners such as me understand what it takes to get our economy moving again. It’s more than just hiring more employees and giving them a paycheck. It’s also about having access to a secure and reliable source of energy, as well as having a common sense energy plan that addresses our energy needs now and in the future.
There are a number of ways that we can advocate for common sense energy solutions. One way is through The Partnership to Fuel America. The partnership is a coalition of local businesses and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy. The partnership helps give a voice to businesses across the country and helps them advocate for common sense energy solutions.
My business is part of the Partnership to Fuel America, and I think every business in South Dakota should join.
The partnership educates people about America’s energy needs. For instance, the U.S. government estimates that we’ll need significantly more energy by 2035 than we do now. In order to meet that demand, we need to start taking advantage of the many resources we have here in the U.S. and North America.
North America has a steady supply of oil and natural gas. Developing these sources of energy will help us economically. Taking advantage of North American energy in the U.S. and Canada will help lower energy costs.
Developing North American energy will also help families. Steady and reliable sources of energy will help lessen families’ energy costs. Developing North American energy will also provide much needed jobs to many working-class families.
Developing a long-term energy policy should include developing North American energy from a variety sources. This should include coal, natural gas, oil and alternative sources from across North America. It’s time to start developing these sources of energy.
The Keystone XL pipeline project is a step in the right direction. Approving the project would have provided thousands of jobs and provided more access to 175 billion barrels of recoverable oil in Canada.
The Obama administration denied us jobs, energy and security when they denied the project.
The Partnership to Fuel American and its partners help advocate for common sense energy solutions that help reach our energy needs and realize the importance that developing North American energy has on our economy. I encourage everyone to consider listing their business as a partner with the Partnership to Fuel America and to learn more about our energy needs and solutions by visiting the partnership’s website, www.fuelingus.org.