Melton: Energy Important for Economy, Working People

The following is a guest blog by Representative Darrio Melton. He represents District 67 in the Alabama House of Representatives, a rural district that includes all of Dallas County and part of Perry County. Melton currently serves as Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

When you represent a rural district, especially one in a place like Alabama’s Black Belt, you become acutely aware of the economic challenges people and businesses face on a daily basis. Communities struggle to recruit and retain quality jobs. Businesses are in a constant battle to find a competitive edge. Families fight to stay above water and to give their children opportunities. I have written before that many of the hardest working people I know are also the poorest. That is why I have fought in the legislature to raise the state’s minimum wage.

Some of my colleagues disagree with my approach to help raise low-income families out of poverty, but there are other areas where we share common beliefs. One of these is the need to protect access to affordable and reliable energy. The need for energy is one of the threads that ties together people from all walks of life. And while energy issues might not rank high in the minds of most working people, the consequences of energy policies have great significance in their lives.

If we are to maintain the economic development success that has brought major industry to our state – projects like Hyundai Motor Manufacturing near my district – we must work hard to create a policy environment where low-cost energy is possible. Time and time again, we have heard from industrial prospects that our state’s low-cost and high-reliability electricity was key to making Alabama their new home. These successes, fueled in part by the pro-energy environment Alabama has built, have directly led to good-paying, high-skill jobs that transform communities and give young people hope.

There can be no doubt that the combination of the federal Clean Air Act and the deployment of new technology can result in tremendous progress in our state’s air and water quality. This progress must be preserved. At the same time, the consequences of new federal rules – ones that go far beyond the original purpose of the Clean Air Act – remain largely unknown. Alabama now faces a new federal mandate to reduce its emission of carbon dioxide by 27% by 2030, the path to which and the cost for which no one currently knows. My fear is that the cost of electricity for families and businesses could rise, placing even more economic pressure on those who can least afford it.

Later this year, the Environmental Protection Agency will issue a new standard for ozone that is likely to be 65 parts per billion and could be as low as 60 parts per billion. Keep in my mind that Dallas County, which makes up most of my district, is currently estimated to have an ozone level of 64 parts per billion, achieving the likely new standard by the smallest of margins. Failure to meet the new standard could result in heavy federal penalties that discourage new industry. Rules such as these must be analyzed carefully to ensure they have minimal impact on communities like mine that can scarcely bear more economic pressure. There is much at stake.

Throughout my public service, I have tried to maintain a thoughtful, open-minded approach to issues that too often can be divisive. Like most in my party, I am a strong supporter of measures to protect the environment. However, I am also sensitive to the possibility that new policies could have unintended results that hurt working people and businesses. By working together, listening to all voices, and carefully examining all concerns, my hope is that we can move forward in a way that makes sense for all.