"America's leading CEOs consider recent increases in energy prices to be a serious threat to our nation's economic growth. Today, Business Roundtable sent a letter to Congress outlining our recommendations to address the energy crisis.

"Business Roundtable members call on the president and Congress to work toward bipartisan, long-term solutions that develop all available energy sources. We support the administration's decision to lift the executive ban on oil exploration in the outer continental shelf (OCS), and we now look to Congress to do the same. "Additionally, we must improve energy efficiency, expand our use of renewable energy and achieve alignment between supply and demand to help lower costs and provide long-term relief for America's citizens, communities and companies.

"We stand ready to work with Congress and the administration to address our nation's energy challenges in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner," said Mike Morris, chairman, president and CEO of American Electric Power, Inc. and chairman of Business Roundtable's Sustainable Growth Initiative.

To view the full text of Business Roundtable's letter to Congress, please click here. For more information on Business Roundtable's position, please view its energy report, More Diverse, More Domestic, More Efficient.