Kent Conrad: “I must oppose this legislation because of the drastic negative effect it would have on our national economy. Our economy…”

“I must oppose this legislation because of the drastic negative effect it would have on our national economy. Our economy depends on affordable, reliable, and abundant sources of energy. Whether that means natural gas, petroleum, or coal, we have a responsibility to ensure that our businesses, manufacturers, and households have access to energy sources at reasonable costs. We depend on energy in almost everything we do in our lives, from turning on the light in the morning, to driving our cars to work, to cooking our dinner at the end of the day. We need access to these sources of energy, and we need access in a way that doesn't force us to choose between paying our power bill, buying gas at the pump, or buying essentials like groceries and medicine. The bill before us would threaten the affordability of these sources of energy. It will require companies that produce and use natural gas, petroleum, and coal to acquire credits for each ton of greenhouse gas emissions for which they are responsible.”