US natural gas prices are the highest in the world, making it increasingly difficult for manufacturing industries to compete in global markets. For example, the US chemical industry's gas bill has increased by $10 billion in two short years, and it has lost $50 billion in business to overseas competition. More than 90,000 good-paying American jobs have disappeared.  In the late 1990s, the US chemical industry posted the largest trade surpluses in the nation's history. Today, it is a running a $9 billion trade deficit. High natural gas prices are threatening the continued viability of a great American industry.

Congress has long turned a blind eye to what the price of natural gas is doing to the chemicals and plastics industries.  Congress also ignored the fact that its own policies were the major cause of the natural gas crisis. Congress encouraged utilities to burn lots of natural gas to make electricity, but also put much of the nation's gas supply off-limits to use.

Congress is now working on energy legislation. ACC members are asking their Senators to support the adoption of provisions that will address the natural gas crisis, specifically one that would codify the existing Presidential moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), but would also allow states to petition individually for access under certain conditions.

Senators listen to what the voters are saying. You can help this effort by asking your Senator to fix the natural gas problem this year.  By using the website e-mail tool, you can send a letter to your Senator asking them to support the bill.  Your e-mail letter will tell them:

* US natural gas prices are the highest in the world. High natural gas costs are pricing American manufacturing out of global markets.

* My company cannot continue to compete at these prices. My job is in jeopardy.

* Congress caused this crisis by accelerating demand and restricting supply. Only Congress can undo the damage.

* Consumers are paying a heavy price.

The chemical industry wants the Senate to  adopt an energy bill that contains strong measures to cure the national gas crisis: (1) a robust national gasification strategy that frees up large quantities of natural gas,  (2) provisions in the Oil and Gas title that bring much needed new supplies of gas to market from proven reserves in the Outer Continental Shelf, and (3) measures to help the U.S. use natural gas more efficiently to generate electricity.

For additional information on the natural gas crisis:

* view a powerpoint presentation on this issue and a summary of five bill elements that can help address high natural gas prices.

* read the March congressional testimony of  Mr. Pete Jones, President, Wexco Corporation on behalf of the Consumers Alliance for Affordable Natural Gas.

* read ACC's May 26 statement on the legislation.

* visit the ACC Natural Gas Media Kit.