(Washington, DC) The Obama Administration has agreed to open the strategic oil reserves in an effort to reduce the cost of gas during the summer months. Citing the crisis in Libya limiting global oil supplies, the White House will be using domestic oil supplies to lower skyrocketing gas prices during peak driving time.

“President Obama, it seems, finally realized this country is in a crisis,” said Mike Carey, president of the Ohio Coal Association. “This administration has a deplorable history of limiting domestic energy supplies: shutting down productive oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, using the EPA to shut down coal mines and over regulating the energy industry. They’ve put a stranglehold on the fuel supply and continue to be shocked at the rising cost of energy and the impact it has on jobs and the economy.”

The White House will be releasing 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an attempt to lower fuel prices and drive the economy, while at the same time continuing its initiatives to go after inexpensive and abundant energy resources at home.

“While we are glad the someone has finally advised President Obama that this nation needs affordable fuel to operate businesses, balance household budgets and grow the economy,” Carey continued. “We only hope that someone is also telling his political appointees at the EPA.”

Mike Carey is a coalition of businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals who support public policies that encourage the production and delivery of the energy required by a growing economy.

Testimony of Mr. Mike Carey

President, Ohio Coal Association Before the

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Hearing Entitled: "EPA Mining Policies: Assault on Appalachian Jobs Part II"

May 11, 2011

Chairman Gibbs, Ranking Member Bishop, Members of the Committee, good morning.

Thank you for inviting me to testify at this important hearing regarding the litany of new regulations being put forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their effects on Appalachian jobs. My name is Mike Carey, and I am President of the Ohio Coal Association. The Association provides a voice for the many thousands of citizens working in Ohio's coal sector. I also serve on the National Coal Council, an advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy on energy resource issues.

Cheap, abundant coal is what powers the manufacturing base and provides affordable energy for families across the Midwest and in other regions of America. The companies we represent, both large and small, directly employ over 3,000 individuals in Ohio alone, with over 30,000 secondary jobs that are dependent upon our industry. In fact, an independent analysis shows that for every primary job, our industry supports up to 11 secondary jobs.

Energy group responds to nuclear power plant crisis in Japan
Japan nuclear plant crisis spotlights the need for safety in electricity generation

Washington, DC - The American Council on Affordable and Reliable Energy (ACARE) today stated that the ongoing nuclear power plant crisis in Japan underscores the importance of safety in power generation.

“ACARE continues to support all forms of electricity generation including coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewable sources,” said ACARE executive director Mike Carey, “but in addition to electricity generation being affordable and reliable, it must also be safe.”

Carey also had a word of warning for policymakers in Washington, D.C., stating that “As the Obama administration and its Environmental Protection Agency jeopardize America’s energy supply, jobs, families, economy and safety though its war against fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, ACARE is committed to working with Congress to ensure that America’s sources of electricity continue to remain affordable, reliable and safe.”

The American Council for Affordable and Reliable Energy advocates public policies on energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future of energy. These public policies should not arbitrarily or unfairly discriminate among energy sources and should be based on sound science and cost-effective and growth-promoting government regulation.

Testimony of Mr. Mike Carey

President, Ohio Coal Association

Before the

House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Power

"EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations and Their Effect on American Jobs"

March 1, 2011

Chairman Whitfield, Ranking Member Rush, Members of the Committee, good afternoon.

Thank you for inviting me to testify today at this very important hearing on the so-called “greenhouse gas” rules and regulations being mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) and their effects on American jobs. My name is Mike Carey, and I am President of the Ohio Coal Association. I also serve on the National Coal Council, which is an advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy on energy resource issues.

The Ohio Coal Association (“OCA”) provides a voice for the many thousands of our citizens working in the Ohio's coal sector. We continually seek to educate state and federal lawmakers on the effects that their policies have in keeping Ohio and the rest of our Country competitive with foreign nations in the areas of low cost energy resources, reliable electric power production, and global manufacturing competitiveness. Cheap, affordable coal is what powers the manufacturing base and maintains our families across the Midwest and in other regions of America. The low cost electricity that coal provides is a staple of life and essential to our standards of living in most of America.

As the UN climate change debate continues in Cancun, Mexico, the economic realities of a manufactured carbon market or any regulatory push toward alternative energy sources should be on the mind of any energy consumer. And this, of course, includes nearly every human being on the planet.  Read more by visiting this link:  http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2010/12/mike-carey-emerging-economies-not-likely-cut-carbon-use/38173#ixzz17Y48lOcF

Ken Salazar was sold to the American people as a moderate Democrat during his confirmation hearing. As a senator, he was not a guaranteed vote for the far-left green agenda. Unfortunately, as a Cabinet secretary, he has walked lockstep with radical environmentalists. Read more by visiting this link: http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Michael_Carey_A2D79BED-D107-4FEA-9932-43A5730A128D.html

Two months after the oil-rig explosion tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, the Obama administration’s reaction shifted from listless to knee-jerk: a moratorium on all deep-water oil-drilling operations that have blowout preventers. Of course, this came after federal judges twice tossed out the moratoriums that this administration had tried to impose.  Read more by visiting this link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/13/same-old-destructive-moratorium/

(Washington, DC) Mike Carey, condemns the Senate’s vote to not stop EPA’s regulation of carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). The Senate vote, under the Congressional Review Act, would have prevented the EPA from moving ahead with a unilateral decision to bring forth new costly regulations and immense taxes on American families and businesses.

“We salute the Senators that stood up and said un-elected bureaucrats should not be making energy policies that will dramatically impact every business and every family across the nation,” said Mike Carey, President of the Ohio Coal Association. “EPA’s attempt to regulate GHGs is nothing more than an assault on taxpayers, the economy and the energy sector. The EPA is grabbing power for itself that Congress has not delegated to that agency.”

Because cap and trade legislation was stymied in the Senate, the EPA tried to push forward through an “endangerment finding” that carbon dioxide is dangerous to human health and grant itself extraordinary powers to regulate nearly every business and industry.

“Our country is at a pivotal crossroads where we need to place American jobs at the forefront instead of a green, job-killing, agenda. The Administration’s plan to regulate GHGs would force our manufacturing base to outsource their jobs to China and India where no such environmental regulations exist,” Carey continued. “With unemployment hovering at ten percent, we need to curtail stifling regulations that will ensnare farmers, ranchers, restaurants, hospitals, churches and small businesses, as well as energy intensive industries in addition to causing huge spikes in the cost of energy.”

EPA will address by fiat what Congress alone should have the authority to address and citizens will not be able to contact their elected representatives with their concerns. Experts estimate these new regulations would ensnare 20 percent of the economy and cause energy price increases for every American family at the pump and when they turn down their air conditioner.

“Unfortunately, the US Senate let down the American people today,” concluded Carey. “The Senate had a chance through bi-partisan cooperation to send a powerful message to the White House that the United States needs more jobs, not more regulations, but they instead punted.”

Mike Carey is committed to providing America with the energy it needs, from coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, renewable sources and technologies yet to be invented. He supports policies that make affordable and reliable energy a reality, energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future.

Mike Carey warned against President Obama’s decision to halt offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coasts of Virginia and Alaska will hurt America’s energy independence. The Obama Administration’s choice to cave to political pressure from the left will hurt all Americans as energy prices, particularly gases prices as the pump, increase at the beginning of driving season. The U.S. gets over one-third of our domestic oil production from the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, oil is used in the manufacture of many everyday things that we take for granted. These jobs are also put at risk by stopping offshore exploration.

Mike Carey, President of Ohio Coal Association, remarked that, “Last week we had a report that the Obama Administration was systemically waging a war on coal through the permitting process at EPA. Now, President Obama has just announced that deep-water offshore drilling has been halted. During these economic difficult times, we cannot systemically dismantle our country’s energy infrastructure in the name of job-killing environmental correctness that will increase the cost of energy. We need to be expanding exploration and production of all of our domestic sources, adopting an ‘all the above’ approach to solving our energy problems.”

Further, he highlighted a report last week released by Senator James Infofe (R-OK) and the Senate Committee for Environment and Public Works that detailed that the Obama Administration has held up 190 permits out of 235 permits that would produce over two billions tons of coal, support almost 18,000 jobs and 81 small businesses during this economy’s economic downturn in order to achieve their “green initiatives.”

Mr. Carey continued, “The Obama Administration’s hold on these 190 permits jeopardizes half the coal production in Appalachia. Coal production accounts for half of the electricity generation in the United States. Simple supply and demand dictate that if there is less coal, prices will rise, causing electricity prices to increase. The policies of this Administration will have a direct impact on the price of electricity for every single person across the United States when we turn on the lights or turn down the air conditioner as summer approaches, in addition to the businesses that also rely on energy production. At a time when we can least afford it, this Administration is increasing the cost of energy to every American and business. The United States has expansive energy resources, and they would all appear to be in the Administration’s crosshairs.”

Mike Carey is committed to providing America with the energy it needs, from coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, renewable sources and technologies yet to be invented. He supports policies that make affordable and reliable energy a reality, energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future.

Mike Carey highlighted a new report released by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) and the Senate Committee for Environment and Public Works that detailed that the Obama Administration has held up 190 permits out of 235 permits that would produce over two billions tons of coal, support almost 18,000 jobs and 81 small businesses during this economy’s economic downturn in order to achieve their “green initiatives.”

Further, the report claims that one in four jobs in Appalachia and nationally one in six jobs could be placed in peril by this Administrations assault on coal by holding up permits through the 404 permitting process. A previous Penn State study has demonstrated that coal-mining jobs support 11 other jobs in such areas as trucking, railroads and equipment suppliers. By contracting these numbers from the Penn State study, this will lead to a further reduction of jobs equal to 162,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

Ohio Coal Association President Mike Carey said, “Last month when I testified before Congress, I warned that the Obama Administration was waging a war against coal. This report published by Senator Inhofe shows definitely this Administration will stop at nothing to completely destroy the coal industry, no matter how many people are put out of work by their policies when our national unemployment hovers at ten percent. What’s more, this report clearly demonstrates that the expansion of coal could employ more people and help lead us out of this recession but, in the name of environmental correctness and stranglehold on business, the Obama Administration will not deviate from their green-job-killing agenda.”

The Obama Administration’s hold on these 190 permits jeopardizes half the coal production in Appalachia. Coal production accounts for half of the electricity generation in the United States. Simple supply and demand dictate that if there is less coal, prices will rise, causing electricity prices to increase. The policies of this Administration will have a direct impact on the price of electricity for every single person across the United States when we turn on the lights or turn down the air conditioner as summer approaches, in addition to the businesses that also rely on energy production. At a time when we can least afford it, this Administration is increasing the cost of energy to every American and business. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of coal and this Administration is systemically dismantling it.

Ohio Coal Association is committed to providing America with the energy it needs, from coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, renewable sources and technologies yet to be invented.  Mike Carey supports policies that make affordable and reliable energy a reality, energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future.

Washington, DC – Today Mike Carey declared opposition to the Kerry-Lieberman (KL) “Cap and Trade” bill that was introduced this morning. After many months of speculation, it can be confirmed that the bill contains many costly elements of no benefit to Americans that the Senators claimed it wouldn’t, as well as many special giveaways to certain major energy companies who helped to craft the bill.

Mike Carey, President of Ohio Coal Association, commented that “Senators Kerry and Lieberman have put together an enormously expensive government power grab worse than the recently passed health care reform bill. It will create huge costs for every American family, job losses and redistribution of wealth with no environmental benefit. The escalating costs, mandates, penalties, regulations and taxes in this bill will prove to be a death blow to our economy as it struggles to climb out of a recession. This bill actually creates 60 new agencies, boards, reports and programs that will only bleed money while strangling businesses. This is by far the most egregious expansion of government in history, and our economy cannot withstand it.”

Senators Kerry and Lieberman have denied that there will be a specific gasoline tax, and so throughout the bill it is called a “linked fee.” This “linked fee” will hit the lower and middle income families particularly hard as they pay a disproportionate percentage of their income on energy. This will run counter to President Obama’s promise not to raise taxes on those making under $250,000. This bill directly impacts about 20 percent of the economy through new mandates on transportation, manufacturing industries, electricity and energy production as well as any business that consumes electricity such as agriculture or service-based industries.

Carey continued, “Make no mistake, this bill will kill jobs in the Midwest and across the country. Manufacturers will either be forced out of business or have to export their jobs offshore to places like India, China, Brazil and Mexico. Those countries would never place caps on carbon that the Kerry Lieberman bill will impose here at home, as they know it would kill their economies. This bill is nothing more than an assault on taxpayers, the economy and the energy sector and a massive wealth transfer to energy and other companies, such as General Electric, that bought space at the trough.”

Carey is committed to providing America with the energy it needs, from coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, renewable sources and technologies yet to be invented. He supports policies that make affordable and reliable energy a reality, energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future. Public policies, such as the Kerry Lieberman bill should not arbitrarily or unfairly discriminate among energy sources and should be based on sound science and cost-effective and growth-promoting government regulation.

The Role of Coal in the New Energy Age

Testimony of Mike Carey
President, Ohio Coal Association
Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming
The Role of Coal in the New Energy Age
April 14, 2010

Washington, DC – Today Mike Carey posted four billboards reminding voters that while Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) voted yes on Cap and Trade, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has not.  

It is Carey's goal to defeat Cap and Trade because increased energy costs will be a burden to American families, drive American jobs to China, India and Mexico and grant massive subsidies to select energy interests.

Cap and Trade, as a political issue, has become as contentious as health care reform.  Many House members have come to regret their vote last year on the Cap and Trade legislation and ACARE seeks to educate the public before the Senate acts.  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced a resolution of disapproval to keep the EPA from moving forward on its own while Congress continues to deliberate. There is now an opportunity to support the Murkowski Resolution which would instruct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to not attempt to regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act, as it was not designed to address something as ubiquitous as carbon dioxide.  

“Cap and Trade is bad for America, and we can’t let EPA bureaucrats accomplish through regulation what they can’t pass as legislation.  If that isn’t enough to make Senators do the right thing, Carey will help remind them that voting against their constituents’ interests is going to be politically painful.  Carey plans more billboards in at least 6 states and we hope Senator McCaskill gets the message,” said Mike Carey, President of Ohio Coal Association.

The billboard artwork now posted across MO-3 may be seen here:
http://www.acarenow.org/billboards/missouri.asp

Mike Carey advocates public policies on energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future of energy.  These public policies should not arbitrarily or unfairly discriminate among energy sources and should be based on sound science and cost-effective and growth-promoting government regulation.

Washington, DC – Today Mike Carey launched the first of a series of billboards reminding voters that while their House member voted on Cap and Trade, their Senators have not. It is his goal to persuade Senators to vote against Cap and Trade because increased energy costs will be a burden to American families, drive American jobs to China, India and Mexico and grant massive subsidies to select energy interests.

Cap and Trade, as a political issue, is likely to be as contentious as the recent debate on health care reform, although it has not received as much attention to date. Many House members have come to regret their vote last year on the Cap and he Trade legislation and  seeks to educate the public before the Senate acts.

“Cap and Trade is bad for America, and if that isn’t enough to make Senators do the right thing, Carey will help remind them that voting against their constituents’ interests is going to be politically painful. He plans more billboards in at least 6 states,” said Mike Carey, President of Ohio Coal Association.

The billboard artwork now posted across Arkansas 2nd Congressional District may be seen here:
http://www.acarenow.org/billboards/arkansas.asp

Mike Carey advocates public policies on energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future of energy. These public policies should not arbitrarily or unfairly discriminate among energy sources and should be based on sound science and cost-effective and growth-promoting government regulation.