January 4, 2010
Mr. Allen Huang
17300 Northeast 25th Way
Redmond, Washington 98052
Dear Mr. Huang:
Thank you for your message regarding efforts to promote renewable energy options for energy consumers. I appreciate hearing from you.
Like you, I believe that consumers should have the ability to choose from a wide variety of sustainable energy production and conservation options in the marketplace. I will keep your thoughts in mind regarding protections for photovoltaic panels from homeowners' association restrictions.
You may be happy to know that I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 890, American Renewable Energy Act of 2009. H.R. 890 would create a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to increase renewable electricity use to 25 percent by 2025. Adopting a RES of 25 percent is estimated to create more than 185,000 green jobs by 2020. Moreover, because each wind turbine requires between 220 and 400 tons of steel to produce and workers to produce and maintain them, a federal RES can create many thousands of American jobs. Additionally, some studies indicate that adopting a RES is projected to save consumers money by reducing their energy costs. For example, one such study showed that adopting a national standard of 25 percent is projected to save consumers $94 billion by 2030 by lowering natural gas and electricity costs.
We are closer than ever to enacting a comprehensive initiative that will put the green economy into high gear by recognizing the cost of industrial emissions that are contributing to the disastrous effects of global climate change. A strong, wide-ranging coalition of support has formed around the recognition of two main facts: 1) a solution to the threat of climate change cannot wait even one more year, and 2) a comprehensive package of reforms to our energy regulations has the potential to launch a new wave of clean energy industries with millions of new jobs in research, energy services, and manufacturing in the renewable energy and conservation sectors. On May 21st, my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee including Chairman Henry Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey completed the Committee "mark-up" process and passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), which will establish this nation's first ever economy-wide limit on greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid dangerous climate change and transition America to a clean energy economy. This bill, also known as "Waxman-Markey," also contains the RES provisions from H.R. 890, and is expected to be addressed by the whole House of Representatives later this year.
You may be interested to know that, in the 110th Congress, I introduced H.R. 6401, which would help make alternative forms of energy an affordable option to millions of energy consumers by ensuring stable returns on immediate investment in sustainable energy infrastructure. This legislation brings the international success story of Renewable Energy Payments (also known as "feed-in tariffs") to America to create 1) guaranteed electricity grid interconnection with uniform minimum standards, 2) a mandatory energy purchase requirement through long-term energy production contracts with fixed-rate tariffs and 3) reliable cost recovery through a built-in surcharge that provides market stability while distributing costs equitably to all electric utility customers in the country.
Renewable Energy Payments have been used successfully in over 40 countries, most notably creating hundreds of thousands of "green collar" jobs to Germany and making that country a world leader in alternative energy. Now it is time for America to combine our innate innovative genius with a bold policy that strengthens our domestic economy, creates more green-collar jobs, fosters a world-class renewable energy market, provides greater electric grid stability and reduces our dependence on costly peak energy sources. This will give homeowners, farmers and communities across America investment security that they can literally take to the bank.
You may be interested to know that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) included a significant level of funding for the types of clean energy research and deployment programs that I have proposed in the New Apollo energy Act. The conference report on H.R. 1 passed the House Friday, February 13, by a vote of 246-183 and subsequently passed the Senate by a vote of 60-38. This comprehensive plan seeks to preserve and create jobs while investing in infrastructure, energy efficiency, science and technology. These are core components of my New Apollo legislation.
The package includes $4.5 billion in matching grants to build a smart energy grid to enhance our ability to utilize clean energy sources and conserve energy, $6 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy construction, and $5 billion to help with upgrades to weatherization and energy efficiency in American homes and public buildings. Amid these negotiations I have also cofounded a new coalition of 40 House members called the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), which has been successful in including several provisions in the package, including $3 billion for the Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee and Grants Program, to support U.S. manufacturers of advanced vehicle battery systems. It is my hope that such incentives ensure that the U.S. does not trade our dependence on middle-eastern oil for a dependence on what are now almost entirely Korean-made electric car batteries.
My colleagues in the SEEC view this whole package of forward-thinking energy investments as a liftoff, of sorts, of our generation's moon shot. This was the launch date in a robust strategy to spur investments in clean energy infrastructure to create economic growth and lasting environmental security. It is my hope that, whether under the ever-more-relevant banner of the New Apollo Energy Project, or in any other form, we can continue our forward velocity and achieve the goal of a green energy revolution. I will continue to work to incorporate other ideas from the New Apollo Energy Act into future legislative vehicles, and likely reintroduce a version of New Apollo in the 111th Congress. This action is needed more than ever to relieve the pressure of record unemployment aid our return to a sustainable economy.
As you know, the subprime mortgage markets and declining property values have caused an economic downturn which is already affecting millions of innocent, hard-working American families. I will do everything possible to ensure that this economy comes out of recession as soon as possible. We are all in this together, and I will keep your thoughts in mind as I work on legislation to address this national crisis.
Please continue to contact me about the issues that concern you, as I both need and welcome your thoughts and ideas. I encourage you to contact me via email, telephone, or fax, because security measures in the House cause delays in receiving postal mail. For more information on my activities in Congress, and for information on services that my office can provide, please visit my website at http://www.house.gov/inslee. If you would like to subscribe to my email updates, please visit http://www.house.gov/inslee/signup.htm.
Very truly yours,
JAY INSLEE
Member of Congress
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