05-R 220

2005 -- S 0979

Enacted 05/03/05

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE FOR A

DOMESTIC ENERGY POLICY THAT ENSURES AN AFFORDABLE SUPPLY OF

NATURAL GAS AND EMBRACES A CONCERTED NATIONAL EFFORT TO PROMOTE

GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE

NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION

Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Walaska, and Paiva-Weed

Date Introduced: March 29, 2005

     WHEREAS, The price of natural gas in the United States, already the highest in the

industrial world, has again spiked and shows continued volatility; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Federal Energy Information Administration., total natural

gas demand is projected to grow 48% over the next 25 years; and

     WHEREAS, The United States and the state of Rhode Island are increasingly reliant on

natural gas in our energy supply, creating an imbalance between natural gas supply and demand;

and

     WHEREAS, Higher natural gas costs are passed through to consumers in the form of

spiraling home heating bills, more expensive food, and higher prices for many pharmaceuticals

and consumer goods; and

     WHEREAS, Energy rates are already the highest in the state of Rhode Island and the

annual bill for a typical residential heating customer is already projected to increase significantly

for the 2005 fiscal year; and

     WHEREAS, The volatility of gas prices is having a negative effect on metal-treating,

chemical, fertilizer, plastics, aluminum, and steel producers as well as the agricultural sector; and

     WHEREAS, The chemical and plastics industries of the United States, once leading

exporters, now have large trade deficits, in part due to rising gas prices; and

     WHEREAS, Hundreds of chemical and plastic industry jobs in the state of Rhode Island

are threatened in industries using natural gas as a raw material, including the business of

chemistry and the plastics industry; and

     WHEREAS, The business of chemistry annually generates over 2,200 jobs in 68

manufacturing facilities with average wages of $41,000 and with foreign exports of $63 million;

and

     WHEREAS, The plastics industry annually generates over 8,400 jobs with $1.7 billion

worth of plastic shipments; and

     WHEREAS, The natural gas imbalance is a multi-faceted issue and will require various

solutions, including, but not limited to, increased production, improved energy efficiency, greater

conservation, and increased importation; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby memorializes the Congress of the United States to provide for a domestic energy policy

that ensures an affordable supply of natural gas and embraces a concerted national effort to

promote greater energy efficiency and environmentally responsible natural gas production; and be

it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the presiding officers of each House of

Congress and to the State of Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation.

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LC02860

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