Creating Energy Solutions for a Strong, Secure and Sustainable Future
Energy demand continues to increase, and regulatory policies are creating uncertainty about future supplies. Yet after years of debate, America lacks a national energy strategy. In order for our economy to grow, U.S. industries to innovate and compete globally, and businesses to create new jobs, our nation must have a truly comprehensive energy policy.
Meeting America’s energy challenges requires a national energy strategy that:
- Maximizes all domestic energy sources, including renewables, alternatives, coal, nuclear, oil and natural gas, particularly from revolutionary new shale finds;
- Employs economically sound approaches to encourage the adoption of diverse energy sources, including energy recovery from non-recycled materials and other renewable sources;
- Works in conjunction with balanced regulatory policies and permitting practices that will protect the environment while allowing us to make the most of our vast resources;
- Encourages sound state and local policies and enhances coordination at all levels of government.
The business of chemistry can be part of the answer. Through chemistry we are creating energy solutions that will enable a strong, secure and sustainable future.
Chemistry: Transforming Domestic Energy into a Stronger Economy and New Jobs
American chemical manufacturers use natural gas as their primary raw material, transforming it into the basic building blocks for 96 percent of goods that Americans use every day, including life-saving medical devices and medicines, home appliances, consumer electronics, protective clothing, safety equipment and more. Thanks to affordable and abundant domestic shale gas, numerous chemical companies have announced new plants or expansions to support further innovations.
Because the chemical industry is the foundation for our nation’s manufacturing sector, we are driving an American manufacturing renaissance that will lead to a stronger economy, greater international competitiveness and new jobs in communities across the nation.
A recent American Chemistry Council study found that a 25 percent increase in ethane supply, made possible by increased supplies of domestic shale gas, could lead to 400,000 new jobs in the U.S. chemical industry and supplier industries, and in other dependent sectors, like lodging and restaurants. Job growth will trickle down to the many more industries that rely on chemistry, like paper, glass, plastics and steel, where there is potential for thousands of more jobs.
Chemistry: Diversifying Energy Sources to Enhance National Energy Security
Chemistry has made it possible to produce more kinds of domestic energy and electricity: from enhanced oil and gas production methods, to battery and fuel innovations; from efficiency technologies that make energy go further to energy recovery technologies that unlock the energy in non-recycled plastics and other materials.
Chemistry is expanding America’s domestic energy portfolio, helping to make the nation more energy secure.
Chemistry: Enabling a Sustainable Future through Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Technologies
Sustainable technologies like energy efficiency solutions and renewable energy innovations are made possible by the products of chemistry. High performance insulations and windows, wind turbines, solar panels, and even lightweight packaging, more efficient fuels and lightweight auto parts that reduce energy needs in shipping and transportation all start with chemistry.
A recent ACC analysis found that the products of chemistry help save up to 10.9 quadrillion BTUs of energy annually, enough to power, heat and cool up to 56 million households or run up to 135 million vehicles each year.
