The House of Representatives passed legislation that will encourage America’s businesses to make the transition to clean American energy.  The legislation, proposed by Congressman John B. Larson, (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, will extend a tax credit on natural gas.

For Immediate Release: December 9, 2009

Contact: Emily Barocas/202-225-7295

HOUSE APPROVES LARSON’S NATURAL GAS LEGISLATION

Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation that will encourage America’s businesses to make the transition to clean American energy.  The legislation, proposed by Congressman John B. Larson, (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, will extend a tax credit on natural gas.

Congressman Larson said, “natural gas is a vital part of our transition to cleaner American energy.  By encouraging businesses to spend their money on a fuel found in abundance here in America, we are making our economy and our homeland more secure and reducing our reliance on foreign energy.”

The legislation is part of a broader plan by businessman T. Boone Pickens to transition more of America’s energy consumption to our own natural gas.  Natural gas is an abundant energy in the United States, with 98% of the natural gas we consume being produced in North America. We have more than 100 years of natural gas reserves in the United States. Natural gas is also twice as clean as coal, so it offers significant environmental benefits.

The boost to the natural gas industry this legislation provides could also create thousands of good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced overseas.  More than 1 million Americans are already employed by natural gas companies and the entire U.S. natural gas industry supports nearly 3 million jobs.

“Creating jobs is my top priority right now.  With every piece of legislation we vote on, we must consider what impact it will have on the jobs market.  That is why I am so proud to support this legislation that will create green jobs immediately and help transition us off of foreign energy in the long run,” said Larson.

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