WASHINGTON, DC, United States, 18 September 2023: Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, announced that Michael Nutter, Former Mayor, Philadelphia and Kendrick Meek, Former Congressman, Florida put their signature on natural gas as a solution to combating climate change. Making the announcement through a Press release, Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future said the two are joining the Natural Allies Leadership Council and added they will serve alongside Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Former Senator and Tim Ryan (D-OH), Former Congressman to advance the vital partnership between natural gas and renewable energy to reach our collective climate goals. The coalition said underlying this decision is a commitment to accessibility and equity for Black and Brown Americans and the need to address the problem as an energy justice issue.

Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future said climate change’s impacts continue to disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities nationwide. At the same time, the coalition said energy costs are unaffordable for many low-income families across the country, with one in six U.S. households experiencing overdue power bills, and nearly half of these households report some level of energy insecurity. Disadvantaged households feel a more significant impact from the rising energy costs, and a partnership between natural gas and renewable sources will improve access to energy for historically marginalised communities, the coalition further said.

Nutter said: “Natural Allies has become the leading voice for a pragmatic approach to energy policy, recognising that climate, reliability and affordability are all connected. As Democrats, we agree that climate change is a global problem that must be addressed. But we also need to be mindful of the best strategies to get us to a clean energy future in the fastest way possible without inadvertently widening the energy gap between those who can afford it and those who can’t. We can and should be growing our renewable capacity to drive down emissions, and we should partner those sources with natural gas as an alternative to coal and oil to accelerate our path to a clean, reliable and affordable energy future.”

Meek said, “I am excited to join Natural Allies and this prestigious leadership team alongside Mary Landrieu, Tim Ryan and Michael Nutter. These are challenging times for communities across our country as millions of Americans struggle to pay rent and make ends meet. As a Floridian on the front lines of climate change, it’s obvious we need to act now by embracing an energy policy that is pro-climate without sacrificing reliability and affordability for families and businesses across the United States. Natural gas is critical to that equation as we grow and expand renewable energy.”

According to Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, natural gas is an affordable and proven carbon reduction strategy that can be expanded quickly to address the growing racial disparities in energy access. The Natural Allies Leadership Council, the coalition said, is committed to raising awareness of the vital partnership between natural gas and renewables to achieve an equitable and just energy future.

Landrieu and Ryan said: “We are thrilled to welcome Congressman Meek and Mayor Nutter to our organisation. They are respected and accomplished leaders, and we are eager to work alongside them to accelerate our clean energy future. Together, we will advocate for fair and inclusive climate initiatives that do not leave our most vulnerable communities behind.”

The Natural Allies Leadership Council, the coalition said, continues to advocate for realistic and practical energy policies like permitting reform and building the infrastructure necessary to move natural gas and renewable power where it’s needed at home and abroad. Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future further said the Biden administration has acknowledged the importance of natural gas and its infrastructure as part of the clean energy future in working with renewables, like stabilising our European allies abroad with secure natural gas, developing technologies like carbon capture, and investing in zero-carbon fuels of the future like hydrogen.

Landrieu and Ryan said, “Together, alongside Nutter and Meek, our Leadership Council is committed to raising awareness on the vital partnership between natural gas and renewables to achieve an equitable and just energy future for all Americans as we build a healthier planet for generations to come.”