Report examines Florida residents natural gas savings

A Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) state report recently found that Florida’s families and businesses saved more than $8 billion between 2006 and 2016 via advances that
decreased natural gas prices.

CEA officials attribute the economic benefit to increased natural gas production and safer, state-of-the-art technologies.

“This report demonstrates how Florida families and businesses who use energy benefit from maintaining an all-of-the-above energy strategy that emphasizes the growth of all resources and the expansion of all energy infrastructure, here and nationally,” Kevin Doyle, CEA’s Florida director, said. “Tourism is crucial to Florida’s economy, creating 1.1 million jobs for Floridians and pumping $51 billion into the state’s coffers. None of this would be possible without energy.”

Households saved almost $798 million while commercial and industrial users saved more than $7.2 billion, combined, per the analysis, which detailed how the national and local energy revolution has helped Florida energy consumers increase disposable income, adding to job growth, and economic investment while revitalizing communities.

The report revealed each Florida resident spent, on average, $2,525 to meet their energy needs in 2016, adding for the 14 percent of the state’s population living at or below the poverty line, the finding translates to at least 20 percent of their income going toward energy expenses.

“Resources such as oil and natural gas are necessary to fuel the airplanes and cars that visit our state daily,” Doyle said. “These same resources power theme park rides, light our homes and keep us cool during hot, humid summers. Floridians need to understand how supporting productive energy policies is critical to ensuring families and businesses can continue to count on domestic energy and the pipeline networks that deliver it to our homes and businesses while also striving to achieve our environmental goals.”