Through Let’s Rebuild America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce advocates for the need to modernize and expand our nation’s transportation, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure. Without proper investment and attention to these networks, our nation’s economic health, competitive advantage, and quality of life are at risk.
Carol Hallett Discusses Let's Rebuild America
Infrastructure Is Key to Energy Security
In an open letter to the next President and Congress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy on July 16, 2008 unveiled 13 fundamental pillars to build a foundation for a new, strategic, and long-term energy policy for the United States. Four of these pillars correspond with the energy infrastructure goals outlined in the U.S. Chamber’s Let’s Rebuild America initiative. To read more about the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy and the open letter and learn how you can get involved, please visit http://www.energyxxi.org/.
Transform Our Transportation Sector
Transportation in the United States is currently 96 percent reliant on petroleum. New technologies, ready for application, must be affordable and become commonplace. Efforts to develop and promote alternative transportation options, including second generation biofuels, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, should be based on life cycle cost analysis and incorporate consideration of each technology’s required infrastructure into policy planning. At the same time, we must focus on an improved surface and mass transportation infrastructure to generate efficiency and reduce emissions.
Modernize and Protect U.S. Energy Infrastructure
Our energy infrastructure is increasingly inadequate for our growing demand and economy. Blackouts, brownouts, service interruptions, and rationing could become commonplace without new and upgraded capacity. Critical energy infrastructure must also be adequately protected from both terrorist threats and natural disasters.
Reduce Overly Burdensome Regulations and Opportunities for Frivolous Litigation
Energy infrastructure systems, including both generation and transmission, require massive amounts of new investment in the face of rising difficulty in locating, permitting, and building new infrastructure. Industry estimates that it will take 10 years to license and construct a new nuclear plant in the United States. Construction of numerous electricity transmission lines, natural gas terminals, and wind projects has been abandoned as a result of frustration and the inability to get siting approval. This may require us to address new federal eminent domain issues. Current regulatory uncertainty and liability issues discourage the development of clean energy alternatives and technologies. Failure to reverse this course will imperil our global economic competitiveness.
Demonstrate Global Leadership on Energy Security and Climate Change
We live in a global energy market that requires broad-based, global solutions. This is an opportunity for America to demonstrate our leadership in innovation and solve what is not solely an American challenge but a global one. Open markets, expanded trade, and the elimination of tariff and nontariff barriers are necessary for a more resilient energy market and the worldwide availability of much-needed clean technologies, especially to aid developing nations. To achieve immediate environmental benefits, we must find ways to share U.S. best practices and existing regulatory approaches to reduce air pollution wherever possible. We must exercise effective and consistent U.S. leadership to achieve a sound global framework to address the environment and issues associated with climate change. This framework must include all major-emitting economies and be compatible with the economic aspirations of the world’s less developed nations, while looking after the well-being of the American people.
Mission
The U.S. Chamber will put money, people, research, programs, and strong political action around a sustained, long-term campaign to rebuild the economic platform of our nation. Four key goals will define the mission and underpin our work:
Establishing transportation, energy, and broadband infrastructure as a core economic issue and a high priority at all levels of government.
Engaging Chamber members, grasstops leaders, and the general public to support sound infrastructure policies and greater infrastructure investment.
Removing obstacles to private investment in infrastructure capacity and promoting policies to streamline project delivery.
Ensuring adequate public sector investments guided by effective policies and programs.
Advancing human progress through an economic, political and social system based on individual freedom, incentive, initiative, opportunity, and responsibility.
