A report by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) shows that residents in blue states with stringent climate policies are facing significantly higher electricity and fuel costs compared to those in red states.
By yourNEWS Media Staff
Residents in states with aggressive climate policies, predominantly led by Democrats, are experiencing higher costs for electricity and fuel compared to those in Republican-led states, as per a new report by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). States like California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey, which have implemented Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) or greenhouse gas cap-and-trade programs, are among the top eight continental states with the highest average retail electricity prices in 2023, according to ALEC’s report.
Joe Trotter, Manager of ALEC’s Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force, criticized recent government policies for overlooking the practical implications faced by Americans. Red states like Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Louisiana, which do not have green energy mandates or participate in cap-and-trade schemes, are leading in electricity affordability in 2023. These states’ practices starkly contrast with those of the higher-priced blue states.
Cap-and-trade programs, which set a cap on emissions and issue pollution permits, tend to increase the cost of oil, coal, and natural gas, thereby driving up overall costs and reducing job availability, as explained by Cornell University’s Legal Information Institute and the Institute for Energy Research.
ALEC’s analysis highlights the disparity in electricity costs between states, with prices in states like California and Massachusetts more than double those in states like Idaho and Wyoming. The report also compares gas prices, noting that gas is considerably cheaper in states with fewer regulations and lower taxes.
The report emphasizes the significant impact of gasoline costs on consumers and suggests that state legislators should consider how state laws and policies affect these prices. Furthermore, it assesses diesel fuel costs, noting that states with favorable attitudes towards fossil fuel production and larger agricultural sectors tend to have lower diesel prices, affecting shipping costs and consumer prices.
This ALEC report sheds light on the economic consequences of state-level energy policies, particularly highlighting the higher costs borne by residents in states with stringent climate regulations.
WATCH: @SenJohnKennedy Destroys Dep. Energy Secretary – Exposes Climate Change Fraud By Asking One Question
KENNEDY: "If we spent $50 trillion to become carbon neutral…How much is that going to reduce world temperatures?"
SEC TURK: "This is a global problem."
KENNEDY: "You… pic.twitter.com/eja5PJzM00
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 4, 2023