Gordon’s Bills Included In House Energy Bill

December 6, 2007, WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy package today that includes legislation U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon authored to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign energy sources.

“For too long, we have depended on a handful of finite energy resources to power our economy,” said Gordon, chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee. “Our future lies in our ability to develop a wide range of energy technologies that use clean, natural resources from the sun, the ocean and the earth. We have an opportunity in this bill to boost energy efficiency and reduce our dependence on foreign energy.”

The energy package incorporates eight bipartisan bills that passed Gordon’s Science and Technology Committee.

The bill would promote research to improve the operation of the nation’s electricity delivery system and advance energy storage technologies for use in electric drive vehicles. By storing generated energy in large batteries when demand is low, consumers could rely on the stored energy when demand for power is high. The research could clear the way for increased use of clean, renewable energy sources for residential use and for transportation, as well as build a competitive U.S. industry in this technology sector.

“I’m happy with the Science and Technology Committee’s contributions to this energy package,” said Gordon. “Over the past year, we have cleared 14 bipartisan, consensus-driven energy and environment research bills. I hope our efforts will bring benefits to American consumers.”

The package also includes Gordon’s bill to raise the energy efficiency standards for certain home appliances, such as refrigerators and clothes washers. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, American Water Works Association, Alliance to Save Energy and Natural Resources Defense Council have endorsed that bill.

The energy bill would repeal $13 billion in tax incentives for oil companies and invest those funds in clean, renewable energy sources. It would also promote renewable energy use among consumers through tax breaks for incorporating wind, solar and geothermal power in their homes, as well as purchasing hybrid or electric vehicles. The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.