Lipinski Helps Pass Comprehensive Energy Bill to Protect Environment and Enhance National Security
Legislation Includes Two Lipinski Initiatives

WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Dan Lipinski joined a majority in the House of Representatives in passing landmark energy independence legislation that will help make our nation more secure, create new American jobs, reduce energy costs for consumers, and fight global warming.

"This bill is a victory for all Americans," said Lipinski.  "I am proud to have played a part in crafting and passing this legislation that will help protect our environment and increase our national security."

The comprehensive energy bill will strengthen national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil and will also help average Americans by repealing $23 billion in tax subsidies for big oil companies.  The bill supports cutting edge research and the creation of new jobs and technologies by investing $2.3 billion in clean, renewable fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, bioenergy, solar, geothermal, and hydro energy.  These initiatives were previously approved in legislation passed through the House Committee on Science and Technology.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, Rep. Lipinski contributed two significant provisions to the bill related to alternative energy development and energy conservation.  The first initiative directs the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to replace commonly used low efficiency light bulbs with high efficiency bulbs whenever a new bulb is installed in a GSA-owned office building.  The GSA is the federal agency which owns and administers office space for civilian federal agencies, and by installing high efficiency light bulbs in their 1800 facilities, this initiative will cut down significantly on energy use by the federal government and at the same time save tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.

The second provision, known as the H-Prize Act, establishes over $50 million in competitively awarded cash prizes to spur innovation in hydrogen energy technologies and advance the use of hydrogen as a fuel for transportation.  Every two years, four $1 million prizes would be given for advances in the production, storage, distribution, and utilization of hydrogen, and one $4 million prize would be awarded for advances in prototype hydrogen vehicles.  And at the end of ten years, one grand prize of $10 million would be given for a transformational advance in hydrogen energy technology.

"As an engineer by training I know it is critical that we invest in new and emerging technologies that are here today and that show great promise for the future," stated Lipinski.  "The bill that we passed today puts us on a path toward energy independence that will help ensure America's continued security and success."