AUSTIN – Environment Texas and the American Wind Energy Association
praised the introduction today of an amendment joint-authored by Congressman
Ciro Rodriguez that would require utilities to generate 15% of their electricity
from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar power by the year 2020. The
measure is scheduled for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow,
with Rep. Rodriguez’s new support widely seen as critical to delivering a block
of votes crucial to the amendment’s passage.
“We hope that having Rep. Rodriguez championing renewable energy will put
us over the top,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “We are proud
and excited that he is taking the lead in helping break our dependence on dirty
and dangerous fossil fuels by harnessing our homegrown renewable resources and
technological know-how to put America on a path to a new energy
future.”
Rep. Rodriguez is offering the amendment with Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) and
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA). The vote on the renewable electricity standard is
expected to be very close and having Rep. Rodriguez as a champion is expected to
persuade others to join him in support.
"Setting a Renewable Electricity Standard for the United States is
a bold step towards energy independence and a cleaner energy future -- one that
I am proud to advocate for. A Renewable Electricity Standard will create
thousands of new jobs and result in billions of dollars in investments in rural
communities across the country," said Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23).
"Texas has
always been a leader in energy production and with the vast renewable energy
potential in our State we will be at the forefront of our nation's renewable
energy future."
The Udall-Platts-Rodriguez amendment is
expected to have significant economic and environmental benefits for Texas. Already, the
renewable energy industry has created thousands of jobs across the state, from
Bergen Southwest Steel producing wind turbine towers in El
Paso, to the ports of Houston,
Beaumont, and Corpus
Christi processing shipments of the turbine engines, to steel
fabrication in Coleman out in west Texas. Renewable energy is also saving
consumers money. According to the Wind Coalition, by displacing use of high-cost
natural gas, wind power saved $476 million in wholesale power costs in
Texas last
year. Finally, increased use of clean sources of electricity will reduce
emissions of smog and global warming pollution.
“Thanks to Rep. Rodriguez we are closer to putting in place nationally the kind of policy that Texas
pioneered, and which began Texas’ rise as a leader in wind power,” said Jaime
Steve, Legislative Director for the American Wind Energy Association. “The
long-term predictability of this legislation will enable the industry to attract
investment capital and achieve manufacturing economies of scale that will spur
economic development, lower consumer prices, strengthen U.S.
energy security, and help our environment.”
US Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Eddie
Bernice Johnson and Sheila Jackson Lee are also on record supporting the
policy.
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