U.S. Rep Warns of Energy Price Politicking
WASHINGTON, March 23—A freshman member of the House Natural Resources Committee told the TRSA Leadership & Legislative Conference that he is concerned about misguided sentiment in Washington that higher consumer energy prices represent a viable means of increasing conservation. This is standing in the way of developing a coherent national energy policy.
Rep. Andy Harris, R-MD, urged the federal government to take the opposite approach and immediately find ways to reduce costs. “Some people think allowing prices to grow is a good way to conserve. That’s going to put us behind,” he said, calling for more attention to better use of U.S. natural gas and coal reserves as a primary means for decreasing the nation’s dependence on oil.
Harris noted that for $1 less, natural gas produces the same Btu content as one gallon of gasoline—a great opportunity considering that the United States has the largest positively identified natural gas reserve in the world. Truck fleet operators such as textile services companies should be incentivized to convert their fleets from diesel to this technology. This would be far more cost-effective than continuing on the present path of federal energy policy, which is too focused on electricity generation through alternative technologies, he opined.
Sun and wind may be sustainable resources but they are expensive to deploy, Harris said. Offering tax credits for these technologies is a double whammy on consumers because it depletes the federal treasury and translates to higher utility rates. In the meantime, he observed, developing countries are not limiting their energy use at a time when the world has passed its peak in oil production and supplies are on the decline. Thus, while competition for what’s left increases, America’s response remains ineffective.
TRSA member companies have long experimented with natural gas in their vehicles. One of them, ARAMARK Uniform Services, received a $2.7-million grant in 2010 from the federal Department of Energy to implement alternative fuel technologies. The U.S. textile services industry has a fleet of 25,000 trucks, TRSA estimates, mostly walk-in vans that deliver laundered uniforms, linens, towels, floor mats and more on a weekly basis to places of business.
About the Textile Rental Services Association of America
The Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) represents the $15 billion commercial laundry industry, which employs nearly 200,000 people at more than 1,500 facilities nationwide, including every major business and industrial region, Congressional district and city in the country. Most Americans benefit at least once a week from the cleanliness and safety provided by the industry—through its laundering and delivery of reusable linens, uniforms, towels, mats and other products for the healthcare, hospitality and industrial/manufacturing sectors. TRSA member companies’ services minimize environmental impacts on air, water and solid waste disposal while reducing costs for millions of customers.
To serve members, TRSA advocates for balanced regulation and facilitates information-sharing and education in the industry. The association assists members in streamlining production, increasing productivity and improving the safety of their people and the environment.