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| Wilson Amendments Added to Energy Bill House Energy Plan Moves Forward |
July 13, 2001 |
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| National Labs to Assess All Renewable Energy Resources
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson, a member of the House Leadership’s Energy Taskforce, helped pass a bipartisan national energy plan in a key House Committee late Thursday night. The Energy and Air Quality subcommittee approved the landmark legislation, which includes provisions on energy conservation, renewable energy, clean coal technology, Nuclear energy production and advances in hydropower production.
“This is the first serious step towards establishing a balanced long-term national energy plan in more than a decade,” said Wilson. “The energy crunch is hurting everyone. Gas prices are high this summer and electric bills are putting a big dent in family budgets and it’s especially difficult for New Mexicans on fixed incomes. Congress must put politics aside and pass a comprehensive plan that will end the feast or famine cycle that has wreaked havoc on consumers across the country.”
The legislation passed by the Subcommittee today includes a string of conservation measures from requiring the government to dramatically reduce the energy consumption on federal facilities to new efficiency standards for televisions, air conditioners, ceiling fans and vending machines.
The bill also includes measures to spur use of clean coal technologies at power plants and ease problems for refineries as they make seasonal changes in gasoline blends. It also extends licensing periods for nuclear power plants.
Wilson, who has played an active role in the development of the House legislation, also offered several important amendments in the committee.
Wilson proposed amendments to prohibit the Department of Energy from flooding the uranium market with government reserves, a practice which has devastated the uranium industry and cost jobs in New Mexico.
The Subcommittee approved an amendment Wilson offered that will require the Secretary of Energy to have the national laboratories assess all renewable energy resources available within the United States.
This assessment will include a detailed inventory describing the available amount and characteristics of solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric and other renewable energy sources.
“Our National Labs are experts in renewable technologies. This assessment can begin take us to the next generation of renewable power,” said Wilson. “But conservation alone will not save enough energy to power our growing economy and rising standard of living. That’s why the balance between conservation, investment in new technology and increased production included in this bill is so critical.”
Congresswoman Wilson also announced at the hearing that she intends to offer an amendment during the full Committee hearing next week that would create a National Energy Council (NEC). The amendment creates an agency similar to the National Security Council.
The Energy Council will integrate and coordinate the development, formulation, and reevaluation of all policies, rules and regulations impacting energy development, supplies, or technologies. The Energy Council will work at the direction of the President to ensure that energy policies conforms to the Presidents long term goals as put forth in the National Energy Policy.
“The Environmental Protection Agency, or the State Department, or Transportation or Agriculture or Interior can each make major policy decisions that affect our country’s energy supply based solely on their department’s view of the world. They don’t have to take into account what happens to the price we pay for gasoline in Belen, or how much it costs to heat our homes in Northern New Mexico during the winter. And, generally, they don’t. This plan for a National Energy Council is a major step toward integrating federal policy when it comes to energy,” Wilson stated.
The bill will be addressed in the full Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday, July 17, 2001. The House leadership intends to bring the national energy bill to the House for a vote before the August recess.
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