Udall Receives Assurances about Colorado's Future Role as Leader in the New Energy Economy
Statement
Udall Receives Assurances about Colorado's Future Role as Leader in the New Energy Economy
Senator Mark Udall released the following statement regarding questions he asked Dr. Steven Chu, President-elect Obama's nominee for Secretary of Energy, during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources confirmation hearing.
"Colorado is well positioned to grow as a global leader in the new energy economy with Dr. Steven Chu as the Secretary of Energy. Dr. Chu has shown a dedication to advancing alternative energy technologies by combining the resources of academia, private industry and national laboratories, all of which are well represented in Colorado.
"During the hearing, I received assurances from Dr. Chu that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden would continue to play a vital role in the development of renewable energy technologies.
"Dr. Chu also stated his desire to work with Congress to create a national renewable energy standard (RES). We in Colorado set ourselves apart as leaders in the new energy economy when the state passed the nation's first citizens-initiated RES in 2004, which required that 10 percent of the state's electric energy come from renewable resources by 2020. The initiative has been such a success that the state RES was amended to require 20 percent by 2020. Along the way, Colorado has developed a booming new alternative energy market that has provided good-paying jobs for many people.
"In the House of Representatives, I helped introduced legislation that would create a national RES20 percent by 2020. An amendment based on this bill received bipartisan support in the House and was included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Unfortunately, the RES provision was pulled during debate in the Senate, and was not included in the final bill signed into law by President Bush. Now that I'm in the Senate, I look forward to working with Dr. Chu, the Department of Energy, and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman to make a national RES a reality.
"In addition, I received Dr. Chu's commitment to take a close look at issues regarding the Rocky Flats environmental technology site, including the continued monitoring of groundwater and soil contamination, ensuring the health needs of former site employees are met, and the ongoing concerns of surrounding landowners.
"I think Dr. Chu will base his decisions on sound science, not political ideology, and I look forward to working with him to further grow Colorado's new energy economy and lead America toward energy independence."
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