What I'm Working On
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Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy
Extending the production tax credit (PTC) for wind, which expires at the end of 2012, has been one of my top priorities this year. The PTC supports thousands of good-paying middle class jobs in Colorado and across the country, while also improving our environment and energy security. But continued uncertainty over the PTC's future has caused a major downturn in the wind energy industry, forcing manufacturers to lay off thousands of workers across the country with more to come if Congress does not extend the PTC as soon as possible. Since last year, I have been a leader in the Senate urging my colleagues to take action. Since June, I have addressed the Senate 19 separate times to urge Congress to extend the PTC, and I won't stop until we get the job done. I was pleased that in early August the Senate's Finance Committee reported a tax bill to extend the PTC on a widely bipartisan vote. Now the full Senate and House must act on this critical issue.
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Protecting air quality in Colorado’s pristine areas
Coloradans know that a strong economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand. That is why I have fought for strong environmental protections to help preserve public health and Colorado’s natural resources that work in concert with on the ground economic realities. For example, on December 16, 2011, I and the rest of the Colorado delegation sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson urging her to promptly consider Colorado’s regional haze state implementation plan (SIP). The Colorado SIP will help combat regional haze pollution, protect air quality and preserve visibility in 12 of Colorado’s most pristine areas, such as our wilderness areas and national parks. It is one of the most aggressive SIPs in the nation and was developed with broad support among Colorado stakeholders. EPA issued its final approval of the Colorado SIP on September 10, 2012, meaning it will be implemented through 2018.
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Supporting Navy Alternative Energy Research
I led a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus expressing strong support for the Navy’s efforts to develop and employ alternative energy technologies. A total of 18 Senators, including myself, signed the letter. The letter states that research and development of new technologies has long been critical to maintaining America’s strategic advantage. We strongly believe that new energy development will save lives and money while creating new jobs and reducing American dependence on foreign oil.
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American Energy and Job Promotion Act
Colorado is positioned to lead the country in renewable energy. That's why I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the American Energy and Job Promotion Act. This bill will extend several key renewable energy tax credits, like the production tax credit for wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and other renewables. This measure, and others that I have supported, could help Americans reduce their energy costs at home and at the pump. Clean energy has great potential in Colorado and the U.S. to create new jobs and help us win the global energy race - but this will not happen without support from the federal government.
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Protecting our Outdoor Heritage
I am in the midst of a collaborative, community-driven process that I hope will ultimately allow Colorado to create legislation for wilderness and national monument designations in two very special places in our state – the Central Mountains (236,000 acres Summit, Eagle, and Pitkin counties) and Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River (20,000 acres in Chaffee County). By hearing your comments from the outset, I hope to develop a plan that a majority of the community agrees will support their interests and further develop Colorado’s booming recreation economy. If we do it in the right way — with a bottom-up rather than top-down approach — protecting public lands will support jobs, our economy, and the quality of life that makes Colorado the envy of the world. In order to facilitate the conversation with these communities, I've developed draft maps of possible wilderness boundaries, which will give us a firm base to compare notes and ideas. All of the maps are online at http://markudall.senate.gov/outdoorheritage, along with an e-mail comment form. I encourage you to share your thoughts about the maps, how the land is used today and your vision for the future of these special places.
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Helping Good Samaritan Cleanup of Abandoned Hardrock Mines
Senator Udall signed a letter, led by Senator Boxer and also signed by Senator Bennet, to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson asking EPA to give additional certainty to Good Samaritans for cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines. Good Samaritans continue to struggle with liability under the Clean Water Act for work they would like to do to remediate abandoned hardrock mines that pollute many Colorado watersheds. The letter requests a preliminary report from EPA on their progress by February 29.
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Supporting Incentives to Spur U.S. Renewable Energy Development
Renewable energy is a crucial element of Colorado's and America’s economic and energy future, supporting thousands of jobs while protecting the environment. I joined 33 of my colleagues in sending a letter to key Senate leaders emphasizing the importance of key renewable energy programs like the Production Tax Credit and Section 1603, because I want to ensure that the tremendous growth in this field over the past decade continues into the next one. These incentives are critical to help companies leverage private investment to create good-paying jobs in Colorado. That’s why I also signed a bipartisan letter supporting the extension of tax credits for wind energy production beyond 2012, which helps give the industry certainty for sustained growth. I will keep working on policies to spur a robust and competitive clean energy industry in the United States.
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Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits
Renewable energy is a crucial element of Colorado and America’s economic and energy future, supporting thousands of jobs while reducing impacts on the environment. I want to ensure that the tremendous growth in this field over the last decade continues into the next one. That is why I support extending key renewable energy tax credits, like the Production Tax Credit and Section 1603, to help to give the industry the certainty it needs for sustained growth that will create good, long-term jobs. These incentives are critical to help companies leverage private investment to create good-paying jobs in Colorado. I recently joined with several other Senators in sending letters to Senate leadership emphasizing the importance of these tax credits.
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Helping Americans Connect to Active Outdoor Lifestyles
Our sedentary lifestyles have led to many public health problems, such as epidemic levels of childhood obesity, and even national security concerns: nearly one in four applicants to the military is rejected for being overweight. This summer, I spearheaded a Kids to Parks initiative to engage the next generation of American youth in the outdoors. That's also why I introduced the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act (S.1802), along with my House colleague Rep. Ron Kind, to help Americans, especially kids, connect with healthy, active, outdoor lifestyles. Connecting with the outdoors is an excellent way to promote good physical and mental health and bolster America’s conservation legacy. It also supports our vibrant outdoor economy, which is especially important in Colorado and to our rural mountain communities.
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Developing Clean Energy Resources on Federal Lands to Boost Local Economies
I co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to help advance clean energy development on public lands while also ensuring that development is being done in a responsible way. America – and Colorado, in particular – is blessed with bountiful renewable resources on expansive federal lands. This bill would create a pilot leasing program for renewable energy development on public lands, potentially streamlining development of renewable energy while also directing revenues to states, counties and a fish and wildlife conservation fund. This bill continues the Western tradition of a balanced land use policy that supports development as well as conservation.
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Highlighting American Successes in Global Clean Energy Revolution
Our country has always been a leader in innovation, and this is our time to support efforts to develop, scale and commercialize new energy technologies. I have been contacted by experts, industry, research groups and constituents asking me to support efforts to achieve energy independence while protecting the environment and to champion efforts to spur economic growth and create jobs. However, recent controversy over the DOE loan program and federal policies to support clean energy technologies has clouded the numerous successes that federal funding has helped to develop clean energy innovations. That’s why I urged Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to update the American people on the progress our country is making in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced clean technologies deployment and job creation. With appropriate oversight and benchmarks, the government can work with the private sector to help our country lead the global clean energy revolution.
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Fighting for Colorado’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
At a recent Senate Energy Committee hearing, I discussed the importance of NREL and how the lab helps create jobs and new industries in Colorado and the nation. NREL came under fire earlier this year from House Republican lawmakers who wanted to dismantle Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs, including the lab. I spoke out against this and emphasized the need to invest in these technologies to lead-not just compete-in the global economic race. And I pressed the department to defend NREL against similar efforts.
Video: http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1443.
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CAFE standards
On July 25, 2011, I sent a letter urging President Obama to set strong but fair fuel economy standards for cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. Cost-effective fleet wide standards will reduce our reliance on foreign oil, save Americans and businesses billions of dollars at the gas pump for decades to come and give consumers more efficient vehicle choices in the marketplace.
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Good Samaritan letter to EPA
Mining has played an important role in the history and settlement of Colorado. But irresponsible mining in years past has taken its toll on the state with over 7,000 abandoned hardrock mines in Colorado alone polluting many of our watersheds. On June 13, 2011, I urged the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson, to update and improve EPA’s tools for helping third-party groups clean up pollution from abandoned hardrock mines. These groups, so-called Good Samaritans, want to improve water quality impaired by abandoned mine pollution but are stymied by legal obstacles. I also urged the EPA to clear up confusion about the legal protections offered by its administrative tools. Read my letter.
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Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act
In May 2011, I introduced S.1067, the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act of 2011, to explore new ways to make nuclear energy as cost-efficient, safe and secure as possible. This bipartisan bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct research into modular and small-scale reactors, enhanced proliferation controls, and cost-efficient manufacturing.
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Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act
I introduced the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act to clarify that the Bureau of Reclamation has the authority to treat water that has become backed up in the Leadville Mine. In 2008, a blockage formed in the tunnel that backed up a large volume of water, thereby creating a potential safety hazard to the community in the event of a catastrophic failure. My bill will give the residents of Leadville, as well as the entire Arkansas River Basin, an additional measure of certainty that the federal government will maintain safe conditions at the tunnel. The bill successfully passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on November 10, 2011.
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National Kids to Parks Initiative
As chairman of the Senate’s Subcommittee on National Parks and co-chairman of the bipartisan Senate Outdoor Recreation Caucus, I am committed to engaging younger generations on the importance of the great outdoors. That's why, on May 19, 2011, I introduced and saw passed in the Senate a bipartisan resolution designating May 21, 2011, National Kids to Parks Day. The resolution marked the official launch of my comprehensive "Kids to Parks" summer campaign, which aims to get kids excited about being active and healthy outdoors, while inspiring the next generation of American stewards to enjoy and protect our nation’s special places. National Kids to Parks Day has partnered with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move Outside!” and the Department of the Interior’s “Youth in the Great Outdoors” initiatives. Click here to make the "Kids to Parks" pledge and join my campaign.
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Renewable Electricity Standard
In April 2011, I introduced S. 741 with Senator Tom Udall, to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), similar to the statewide RES we have in Colorado. Our bill would require that 25 percent of our electricity be produced from renewable energy sources by 2025.
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Clean Air Act resolution
On March 31,2011, I co-sponsored legislation recognizing the past, present and future public health and economic benefits of cleaner air due to the successful implementation of the Clean Air Act since its enactment in 1970.
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Critical Minerals and Materials Promotion Act
In February 2011, I introduced S. 383, the Critical Minerals and Materials Promotion Act of 2011, to help restore our country's leadership in the critical minerals and materials industry, which is increasingly important in the manufacturing of clean energy and defense technology. Critical materials are used in products from cell phones to weapons guidance systems, and include neodymium, used in the manufacture of wind turbines, and dysprosium, which is used in electric cars.