NHEC Challenges Energy Burden on Hispanic Households

The National Hispanic Energy Council (NHEC), founded to bring a Hispanic voice to the energy policy debate, announced a plan to actively engage policymakers, elected officials and the public to create greater understanding and action to reduce the excessive costs the Hispanic community is facing.

The National Hispanic Energy Council is founded on the principle of fair and equitable energy for all Americans, driven by their desire to reduce the 20% higher energy costs Hispanic families pay compared to the median American family.

"Good energy policy is good economic policy. We are here to advocate for good energy policy that prioritizes American assets, that makes it easier to build the energy industry and infrastructure and provide the best environment for the American dream to thrive and prosper," said NHEC Chairman Julio Fuentes, who is also president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "Making energy more expensive hurts the American dream."

The NHEC has argued that because Hispanics start businesses more frequently than any other demographic (3 to 5 times the rate of any other segment of the population) they are adversely affected by rising costs of energy.  "The higher the cost of energy, the lower the profit. That means we cannot employ the number of people we want, we can’t provide the opportunity for people in our community," said co-founder of the Latino Coalition of the Palm Beaches Lazaro Mur.

The NHEC is now recruiting from among Hispanic leaders and corporate partners to convene its inaugural Board of Advisors.  The goal is to eventually sway public policy to favor a more affordable and equitable energy policy.