In anticipation of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce introducing the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation's Future Act, or CLEAN Future Act, UA General President McManus sent the following letter to Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone to thank him for his commitment to protecting UA jobs working on our nation's natural gas infrastructure.
The full text of the letter is below:
The Honorable Frank Pallone
Chairman
House Energy and Commerce Committee
2107 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
January 22, 2020
Dear Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the more than 359,000 members of the United Association of Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVACR Service Techs of the United States and Canada (UA), I want to thank you for your commitment to protecting the tens of thousands of jobs that are essential to our nation’s energy infrastructure. As you and your staff know, any transition to a net-zero economy requires a wide array of energy options including natural gas and nuclear. The UA is excited to work with you to achieve our shared goals of a clean energy future.
As you introduce the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s Future Act, or CLEAN Future Act, the UA is thankful for your commitment to protecting natural gas as a bridge fuel. Simply put, net-zero carbon emissions are impossible to achieve without the continued use of natural gas. Without natural gas, energy costs for the American family would dramatically increase. In addition, natural gas pipelines are some of the safest and most reliable modes of transporting these essential fuels when installed with union labor. Together, we can work to reduce methane emissions and ensure natural gas remains a carbon-neutral source of energy while continuing to provide affordable energy to the average American.
We are encouraged by your commitment to protecting the jobs of the UA’s members working in the natural gas industry as you work to establish a framework to achieve a clean energy future. You and I both know that clean energy can be achieved through a variety of means, and that does not preclude the development of natural gas pipelines and nuclear energy. The highly skilled tradesmen and women of the UA are and always have been proud to build our nation’s energy infrastructure. We look forward to continuing that work.
Sincerely yours,
Mark McManus
General President
United Association