Texans value manufacturing
Jan. 31, 2012

Manufacturing received considerable attention in the president's State of the Union address, and rightly so. The manufacturing sector is absolutely vital to a strong American economy. As the largest exporter of manufactured goods in the U.S., Texas is a pivotal part of the engine that will propel our country's economic recovery.

To ensure manufacturers in Texas and across the U.S. are able to deliver the nation into an enhanced and sustained economic recovery, policy must match the rhetoric.

It is imperative that we have access to reliable, affordable energy, a ready workforce with skilled workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and smart incentives to fuel American innovation, research and development. Leaders here in Texas clearly get it.

House Speaker Joe Straus made manufacturing a priority in the interim charges lawmakers will consider this year.

We can only hope that the federal government follows Texas' lead.

Fred Shannon, chairman, Texas Association of Manufacturers, Austin

Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Pipeline rejection a blow to Texas
January 24, 2012
http://www.caller.com/news/2012/jan/24/no-headline---letters_tues_0124/

Re: "Editorial: Obama made wrong decision on Keystone pipeline" (Jan. 20)

To say President Barack Obama's decision to nix the Keystone XL pipeline was wrong is an understatement. Indeed, as the Caller-Times editorial board suggests, the Keystone pipeline "is remarkable for its economic and geopolitical potential." It's troubling to see the administration reject the pipeline, robbing eager workers of jobs and ensuring the U.S. remains far too dependent on foreign oil from hostile sources.

Rejecting the pipeline is a blow to Texas on a number of fronts, including manufacturing which anchors the Texas economy. Keystone XL pipeline would create thousands of new manufacturing, energy and service sector jobs. The pipeline would also contribute a significant stream of revenue for the state at a time when budgets remain tight. Affordable, reliable energy — that Keystone XL would have provided — also is a top priority for Texas manufacturers and a major contributor to future job growth.

Washington should be looking to advance policy that creates jobs and encourages private investment in energy and infrastructure, not stifle it.

For working families, the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline would enhance our nation's energy security, bring the U.S. safe energy from a reliable trading partner and create jobs across the state and the nation. It's a shame the president doesn't see it that way.

Fred Shannon, Texas Association of Manufacturers chairman

Keystone XL Pipeline An Undeniable Boon For Texas
by LUKE BELLSNYDER, Texas Association of Manufacturers
October 2, 2011
http://www.gilmermirror.com/view/full_story/15867940/article-Keystone-XL...

SMART MONEY is betting on the Keystone XL pipeline expansion to go forward because the project is driven by a clear-eyed realism about our energy, economic and – in what is indisputable in a world driven by revolution and social upheaval – our political and security needs. For Texas, the good news is that the pipeline will bring an estimated $2.3 billion in new investment to the state economy at that exact point in time when the risk of another economic downturn is as high as it’s been in years. Substantial investment - and the jobs that come with it - will happen all along the pipeline route, including here in Upshur County.

The realism on Keystone begins with the sobering outlook for significantly higher oil consumption in the global economy. The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) predicts that worldwide energy consumption will surge 53 percent between 2008 and 2035, with about half of the growth coming from China and India. Some 80 percent of the world’s energy will continue to be based on fossil fuels in 2035.

In the United States, half of our energy will still be generated from petroleum products 25 years from now. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t develop affordable, advanced technologies to bring alternative fuels to the marketplace. Far from it, and given the history of technology we know that breakthroughs can come suddenly and unexpectedly. But the EIA’s energy outlook provides a needful reminder that the world’s largest economy will require oil for a long time to come.

Which presents us with another important question: Where will we get that oil? In recent comments, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has hinted that the Obama administration is leaning toward approval of Keystone XL and one of the reasons why is that Canada looks a lot more politically appealing than other sources these days in the Middle East and elsewhere. “Having Canada as a supplier for our oil is much more comforting than having other countries supply our oil,” Chu said. Canada, our largest and friendliest trading partner, wants nothing more than to link its vast Alberta oil sand deposits to Texas refineries via Keystone. The oil in Alberta is second only in size to the reserves held by Saudi Arabia.

For anyone concerned about Texas manufacturing and its 838,000 employees, Keystone promises to provide a stable source of energy for decades to come, not to mention thousands of jobs to build and maintain it. That’s an unqualified advantage for the regional economy. Affordable, reliable energy is a top priority for Texas manufacturers and a major contributor to future job growth. This is important because Texas manufacturing accounts for some 13 percent of state economic output and manufacturing wages and benefits are about 34 percent more than the rest of the Texas workforce. Manufacturing jobs are among the state’s best jobs and we need to do all we can to create more of them. The Keystone XL is primed to deliver tens of thousands of good jobs and tremendous economic opportunity.

Opponents of the pipeline have cited concerns about the effects Keystone XL will have on the atmosphere, but their case is unconvincing. Pipelines are the safest, most efficient way to transport resources like oil and gas. Proposing trucking as an alternative would only increase air emissions. Environmental precautions are a priority in any project like this and the U.S. State Department’s own Environmental Impact Study on the Keystone XL concluded that there would be “no significant impacts to most resources” along the route if managed properly.

For American and Texan working families, the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline will enhance our energy security, tighten the bond with our most reliable trading partner, and create jobs at the precise moment when we need them most. It’s time to embrace reality and push the project forward without delay.

Letter to Editor
By Luke Bellsnyder
May 18, 2011

Regarding "Brewery legislation runs into possible bottleneck" (Page D1, May 11), manufacturers get to preview their wares and consumers can make informed decisions when people have an opportunity to sample the goods. That's why a proposal that would allow visitors to obtain small amounts of beer in sealed containers after touring Texas breweries is a good idea.

The original bill, which didn't limit which breweries could offer tours, is a win for everyone. Consumers would get to take home a memento from their day at the brewery. Brewers could showcase their craft. And the amount available after the tour would be so small, it wouldn't interfere with regular sale and distribution of beer. Unfortunately, some saw the bill as opportunity to play favorites in an industry and placed a cap on the size of breweries allowed to participate.

Brewery tours and beer samples should be an option at all Texas breweries. Allowing small, mid-sized and large brewers to sell samples after tours will in no way affect beer distributors' monopolies. Lawmakers should remove the cap and send the proper message: Texas is open for business, of all sizes.

— Luke Bellsnyder, Texas Association of Manufacturers, Austin