AG Jeff Landry Urges
Against Tax Increase on Burdened Louisiana Consumers
BATON
ROUGE, LA – Attorney General Jeff Landry is urging the U.S. Senate to oppose
the Methane Emissions Reduction Act, legislation which would require an $1800
tax be charged to oil and gas producers for every ton of methane emissions. A
similar provision is included in the U.S. House version of the Build Back
Better Act, which proposes a $1500 tax for every ton of methane emissions.
“Another day, another Radical Left proposal to attack American energy and
punish the lower and middle classes,” said Attorney General Landry, who
recently wrote the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on this issue. “Consumers are already burdened
by Bidenflation; they cannot afford yet another tax increase.”
“These
proposed fees would not only hurt Louisiana natural gas producers and lead to
significant economic damage throughout our State, but also add to soaring gas
prices and past due utility bills that have piled up to record levels since the
pandemic began,” continued Attorney General Landry. “With analysts predicting
natural gas bills could be 30% higher than previous years, this methane tax
could be devastating or even deadly during the ‘heating season’ of winter,”
Data from
industry experts shows that the $1800 fee could impose a cost of $14.4 billion
and affect as many as 155,000 jobs.
"The Louisiana oil and gas industry, which employs hundreds of thousands
of our neighbors, contributes both necessary products to consumers and critical
tax revenues for coastal restoration and hurricane protection; attacks on the
industry like this methane tax will have devastating and far-reaching impacts
upon the residents of Louisiana,” concluded Attorney General Landry. “I urge
Congress to reject this ill-advised policy and instead focus on affordable
energy solutions.”