The cost of energy has been a rising concern for years, consistently ranking as one of the top issues for small business owners. NFIB recently sent a letter of support to Congress for HR 3699 (the Energy Choice Act), which will allow small businesses to have better access to affordable and reliable energy.

The Energy Choice Act  prohibits state and local governments from banning energy services based on the type or source of energy. This legislation will prevent one-size-fits-all mandates from wreaking further havoc on small businesses and their local economies as electricity demands continue to break peak records.

For example, the state of New York has specifically enacted these types of bans: Starting in 2026 for smaller buildings and 2029 for larger buildings, most new residential and commercial buildings will be prohibited from installing natural gas hookups. A recent ballot showed that 96% of NFIB members disagreed with government bans or restrictions on the purchase of consumer products based on their energy sources.