Congress is under pressure to respond to high gasoline prices and they are looking at bills that provide alternative fuel choices. Unfortunately, 183 House members have chosen to respond by co-sponsoring a bill that would increase natural gas prices and harm our ability to invest here in the U.S.
The legislation, called the NAT GAS Act (H.R. 1380), would provide billions of dollars in incentives to create more natural gas vehicles and supporting infrastructure. Coupled with other policies that increase demand, this will inevitably lead to increased energy and feedstock costs for Dow and the chemical industry just when stable natural gas prices are stimulating U.S. investment decisions viewed as impossible a few years ago. And, while some in Congress want to incentivize demand, others, including 86 co-sponsors of this very bill, consistently support measures that limit additional supply. Policies that increase demand while constraining supply are a recipe for higher prices.
Learn More About H.R. 1380
We are concerned about this bill because the last time Congress picked natural gas as the "winning" fuel, the U.S. experienced massive natural gas spikes and the loss of 4 million manufacturing jobs. Our industry lost 100,000 jobs and changed from the nation's leading exporter to a net importer. We can't allow that mistake to happen again.
While we strongly support diversifying our energy mix with domestic sources, this legislation is bad policy; it will drive up natural gas demand without increasing the supply. This will hurt manufacturers and other natural gas consumers.
As you know, on April 21 Dow announced plans to expand capacity at several plants and construct a new ethylene cracker in the U.S. These new assets will add hundreds of much-needed jobs and create a "chain reaction" of investment and job creation across the value chain. This multi-billion-dollar investment is possible because natural gas prices are stable. H.R. 1380 will do the exact opposite; it will make prices more volatile and undermine the manufacturing sector's recent expansion, which has been a driving factor in our economic recovery.
Please urge your Member of Congress to (1) oppose H.R. 1380 and (2) any bill that would distort the market for natural gas. Only by dealing with both supply and demand will we keep natural gas prices stable for consumers and businesses.
This bill has considerable support and we need to remind Members of the negative consequences of high natural; gas prices on manufacturers. So please take action now.
Please take a few moments TODAY to make your voice heard!
How to send a message to your Member of Congress in less than 2 minutes...
- Go to the Dow Action Network Call-to-Action website for Employees or Retirees below and confirm your contract information appearing on the page.
Employees
Employees Take Action - Write to your Member of Congress
Retirees
Retirees Take Action - Write to your Member of Congress
- Review the sample letter to your Member of Congress, and personalize it if you would like.
Note: If your Member of Congress is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1380, your sample letter will express disappointment and ask that he/she remove their name from the bill
- Press the "Send This Message" button and you're done -- your message will immediately be sent to your Member of Congress.
On behalf of The Dow Chemical Company and its stakeholders, thank you for taking action on this very important piece of legislation!
Sincerely,
Andrew N. Liveris
Chairman and CEO
The Dow Chemical Company
