ExxonMobil CEO Outlines Energy Solutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The energy challenge now faced by America and the world -- ensuring the availability of energy supplies required for economic growth while addressing the risks of climate change -- was outlined by ExxonMobil Corp. chairman and CEO, Rex Tillerson, in a speech given last week
"Our best hope is to harness the power of new technologies and free markets to meet the world's energy and environmental challenges," Tillerson said in his speech to the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
"By allowing nations and peoples to work together, we can invest in integrated solutions that expand energy supplies, increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Time and time again, our industry has proven that innovation and cooperation unleash human ingenuity and bring far-reaching technological advances that can transform the economy, protect the environment, and increase energy security," he continued.
Tillerson highlighted the advantages of a revenue-neutral carbon tax as an effective policy option vs. the shortcomings of cap-and-trade systems, which he said can increase price volatility and cause economic harm while failing to reduce carbon emissions.
"For businesses and industry, volatile carbon prices under cap-and-trade would undermine the ability to invest in the advanced technologies that are our best hope for expanding supplies, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. Such an approach would also create economic inefficiencies and invite market manipulation," he said.
"A carbon tax is a more direct, transparent and effective approach and one which would be easier to apply globally, while avoiding the establishment of new mechanisms for trading emissions and new regulators to monitor them.
"It is the most efficient means of reflecting the cost of carbon in all economic decisions -- from investments made by companies, to fuel and product choices made by consumers. If implemented on a revenue-neutral basis, a carbon tax would ensure government policy is specifically targeted to reduce emissions and not to creating a new revenue stream."
Tillerson said punitive taxes targeting the energy industry are detrimental to economic growth, environmental innovation, and energy security. He said such policies ultimately raise energy costs for consumers and undercut America's future by hindering the industry's ability to invest in new supplies, which are critical to America's environmental and energy security.
The CEO's speech also highlighted the importance to the American economy of the oil and gas industry, which he said supports more than 9 million jobs and provides hundreds of billions in tax revenues for federal and state governments.
"Throughout our nation's history, the oil and natural gas industry has played an important role in America's economic growth," Tillerson said. "It drives the U.S. economy by providing reliable energy, well-paying jobs, tax revenues, technological innovation and a solid investment for millions of Americans."
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"Our best hope is to harness the power of new technologies and free markets to meet the world's energy and environmental challenges," Tillerson said in his speech to the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
"By allowing nations and peoples to work together, we can invest in integrated solutions that expand energy supplies, increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Time and time again, our industry has proven that innovation and cooperation unleash human ingenuity and bring far-reaching technological advances that can transform the economy, protect the environment, and increase energy security," he continued.
Tillerson highlighted the advantages of a revenue-neutral carbon tax as an effective policy option vs. the shortcomings of cap-and-trade systems, which he said can increase price volatility and cause economic harm while failing to reduce carbon emissions.
"For businesses and industry, volatile carbon prices under cap-and-trade would undermine the ability to invest in the advanced technologies that are our best hope for expanding supplies, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. Such an approach would also create economic inefficiencies and invite market manipulation," he said.
"A carbon tax is a more direct, transparent and effective approach and one which would be easier to apply globally, while avoiding the establishment of new mechanisms for trading emissions and new regulators to monitor them.
"It is the most efficient means of reflecting the cost of carbon in all economic decisions -- from investments made by companies, to fuel and product choices made by consumers. If implemented on a revenue-neutral basis, a carbon tax would ensure government policy is specifically targeted to reduce emissions and not to creating a new revenue stream."
Tillerson said punitive taxes targeting the energy industry are detrimental to economic growth, environmental innovation, and energy security. He said such policies ultimately raise energy costs for consumers and undercut America's future by hindering the industry's ability to invest in new supplies, which are critical to America's environmental and energy security.
The CEO's speech also highlighted the importance to the American economy of the oil and gas industry, which he said supports more than 9 million jobs and provides hundreds of billions in tax revenues for federal and state governments.
"Throughout our nation's history, the oil and natural gas industry has played an important role in America's economic growth," Tillerson said. "It drives the U.S. economy by providing reliable energy, well-paying jobs, tax revenues, technological innovation and a solid investment for millions of Americans."
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