U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal said energy-related bills now working their way through Congress could be bad news to industry in the Southeast.

Deal’s comments were made Friday at the opening of the 2009 Regional Environmental and Safety Assembly at the Georgia Mountains Center.

The event was sponsored by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

“We anticipate legislation on global warming that has great impact on the way business is done,” Deal said. “The issue of renewable electricity standards will put the Southeast at a disadvantage because we don’t have many renewables in terms of wind, solar or geothermal. “He said legislation has been offered that would require that 25 percent of power generation come from renewables.

“Unfortunately, they don’t consider nuclear in the mix, even though it is noncarbon polluting,” Deal said. The congressman, who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said such legislation puts the U.S. in a difficult situation when it comes to global commerce.

“If you cap our emissions and you have to trade, other countries, such as China, are not under the same constraints. It puts our manufacturing base at even greater peril,” he said.

The assembly, now in its fifth year, includes seminars and a trade show offering the latest in energy efficient and green products, as well as safety gear used within manufacturing plants.

More than 100 people attended Friday’s event representing a number of large area employers.