Small businesses are pushing for legislation to provide affordable energy options. The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act and the Energy Choice Act have advanced in Congress and would help bolster domestic energy production.

The SPEED Act heads to the U.S. House floor, aiming to clarify ambiguous provisions and expedite environmental review processes. The Energy Choice Act would stop state and local governments from banning energy services based on the type of energy. It was approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and will advance to the full House floor for a vote. 

In NFIB’s most recent Problems and Priorities survey, small business owners ranked the cost of natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil as their sixth most pressing issue. Many small business owners have felt the impact of growing energy costs and have had to take extreme measures to adjust. 

“As the owner of a powder coating company, reliable and affordable energy; especially natural gas, is essential to my ability to operate and grow. Here in Massachusetts, moratoriums on new natural gas service and the blocking of pipeline projects have restricted my capacity to expand, increased my operating costs, and undermined my competitiveness. These policies ultimately force higher costs onto my customers and hinder local manufacturing,” said NFIB Member Korey Bell, Westside Finishing Co., Inc. in Holyoke, Massachusetts. 

With the demand for energy at an all-time high, the need for domestic energy has never been greater. Both the SPEED Act and the Energy Choice Act will help facilitate the production of American energy, providing reliable and affordable energy options. Read NFIB’s letter of support for the Energy Choice Act for a deeper look at the benefits this bill provides for small businesses.

Take Action: Tell Congress how energy costs have impacted your small business.