Consumer Energy Alliance to Voters: From Now through November, Remember Elections Matter
With 131 days until Election Day 2018, Campaign for America’s
Energy starts its countdown in New Mexico reminding voters that lowering
costs and poverty rates starts with energy
Consumer
Energy Alliance (CEA) announced today a new effort by their
nationwide “Campaign
for America’s Energy” initiative to remind voters about the
importance of energy in their daily lives and encourage them to consider
candidates’ stances on energy production and infrastructure when they
head to the polls.
This effort begins as the organization and its 500,000-plus national
member’s countdown to Election Day 2018.
CEA’s emphasis on the implications of energy policies on families and
small businesses comes when most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and
households, on average, spend more than $3,500 annually on
energy-related costs. According to the Census Bureau, more than 40
million Americans live in poverty, and 13.5 million are out of work or
searching for full-time jobs – all of whom see unnecessarily-high,
double-digit percentages of their take-home pay go toward utility and
fuel expenses.
Unfortunately, the situation is paramount in many states across the
U.S., including New Mexico, where CEA has recently expanded its campaign
to bring greater attention to the state’s desire to improve its business
climate, provide more jobs and help the state’s most underserved
families afford energy.
For a low-income New Mexican living at or near the poverty line, energy
costs can be over 47 percent of their individual income – nearly 8 times
the amount that experts
consider to be affordable. These expenses often saddle households who
can least afford them, especially the 21.5
percent of New Mexico residents on food stamps.
“As voters begin thinking about their choices for Election Day this
fall, they need to remember that without reasonable energy solutions,
their costs for electricity, heating, cooling and gasoline rise,” David
Holt, President of CEA, said. “Unfortunately, those most impacted by
energy price increases are those living on a fixed income or living
paycheck to paycheck.”
Holt added: “The good news is that in many states – including New
Mexico, thanks to abundant, low-cost, energy, families and businesses
don’t have to go far to get the resources they need to help lower their
bills. Voters really need to consider issues, like energy, that can
directly affect them when they go to the polls this November.”
“From now through November, CEA will be increasing awareness throughout
its current campaign states – and now New Mexico – to ensure voters
understand that no matter what party you support, you’ve got to make
sure that the candidate you’re voting for agrees with your energy
priorities,” Holt added. “If an elected official has forgotten about the
best interests of those they were elected to represent and failed to
appreciate the real and devastating consequences that a just-say-no
approach to energy has on them, they need to know they are potentially
raising energy prices on those who voted them into office.”
The “Campaign for America’s Energy” focuses on educating families,
businesses and state and local lawmakers about the benefits of energy
and the critical role it plays in everyday lives and budgets.
About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small
businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support
America's energy future. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, our
mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for
households across the country. We believe energy development is
something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary
for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we
develop our diverse energy resources and energy's importance to the
economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.
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