Washington, DC – U.S. Reps John Hall (D-NY19) and Paul Hodes (D-NH02) led Freshmen Members of Congress today calling for inclusion of the House-passed Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and the Senate-passed fuel economy increases in the final version of the Energy Bill that the House and Senate are currently negotiating in conference.

 

"We strongly support including these provisions in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, combat global warming, and create a stronger, more secure economy," Hall and 18 other Freshmen Members wrote today in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

 

In August, the House passed H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act.  It includes a provision, called the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), which would require utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources.  The Senate version of the bill did not include the RES standard, but added a provision raising the average vehicle fuel economy standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

 

"The energy bill in conference gives us a historic opportunity to make landmark changes in our energy policy that will help end our addiction to foreign oil while fighting global warming," said Hall.  "Raising fuel economy standards will help us escape the grip of Middle Eastern oil, reduce tailpipe emissions, and give drivers a break at the gas pump.  The renewable energy standard will allow us to fight global warming and jumpstart a green energy boom that will create thousands of jobs and billions in investment here at home.  The House and Senate have driven these bold proposals down the field, now we need to fight hard to get them over the goal line."

 

Combining the provisions of both the House and Senate versions of the Energy Bill would reduce emissions that cause global warming by 1,530 million tons of carbon dioxide (19 percent) by 2030, and would save consumers $850 billion, according to estimates by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

 

Nineteen Members of Congress signed onto the letter to Pelosi: John Hall (D-NY19), Paul Hodes (D-NH02), Jerry McNerney (D-CA11), Keith Ellison (D-MN05), Michael Arcuri (D-NY24), Timothy Walz (D-MN01), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO07), John Sarbanes (D-MD03), Steve Kagen (D-WI08), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH01), Patrick Murphy (D-PA08), Christopher Murphy (D-CT05), Hank Johnson (D-GA04), Joe Courtney (D-CT02), Joe Sestak (D-PA07), Yvette Clarke (D-NY11), Kathy Castor (D-FL11), Heath Shuler (D-NC11), and Harry Mitchell (D-AZ05).

 

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