Energy Infrastructure

Contact

Jeff Shoaf
Senior Executive Director
Government & Public Affairs
Associated General Contractors of America
2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
Phone: (202) 547-3350
Fax: (703) 837-5407
http://www.agc.org

Support A Comprehensive National Energy Strategy that Increases Domestic Production, Generation, Refinery and Transmission Capacity

Background:

  • By 2030, even with gains in efficiency, total energy consumption is forecasted to increase by 31 percent. Shortfalls and bottlenecks in energy supplies and our infrastructure network are becoming more evident. The imbalance between energy supply and demand requires a comprehensive national strategy to invest in infrastructure that will meet current and future demands.

AGC Message:

  • A Comprehensive National Energy Plan Will Benefit All Americans. Safe construction of additional production and transmission networks is necessary for an all encompassing plan. The additional infrastructure investment will benefit the environment, the nation’s economic competitiveness and will result in increased energy efficiency.
  • Clean Energy Sources Are a Component of a Complete Energy Strategy. Clean power from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power has minimal environmental impact. Currently 18 percent of the nation’s energy needs are supplied from these and other renewable sources. Nevertheless, AGC opposes government mandates and instead encourages the allowance of market forces for the expansion of the alternative energy sources.
  • Nuclear Energy is Safe and Does Not Emit Pollutants or Greenhouse Gases. Recent technological improvements make nuclear power an environmentally-friendly alternative. The United States has not invested in nuclear power since 1973 and today only 19 percent of our nation’s energy comes from nuclear power, while some of our economic competitors rely on nuclear power for upwards of 80 percent of their electricity. AGC supports the construction of plants that have been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in order to diversify the nation’s energy sources.
  • A Broad Plan Should Include Increased Sources of Domestic Oil and Natural Gas. Increasing domestic energy production by opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to exploration and production, as well as the nation’s offshore oil deposits will minimize our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. A RAND Corporation study states that there is more oil in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah than Saudi Arabia, and enough oil in ANWR and the Outer Continental Shelf to significantly reduce imports from the Persian Gulf.
  • Increased Capacity Will Alleviate Energy Bottlenecks and Increase Efficiency. Investing in new refineries and building new pipelines are critical to bridge the ever-increasing demand and supply gap. Environmental regulations must be balanced with economic objectives, and monitored to ensure that they are applied reasonably and do not obstruct production.