New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act

Floor Speech

NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - August 04, 2007)

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Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to establish a 15 percent national renewable electricity standard by the year 2020. In doing so, utilities are permitted to meet up to 4 percent of this requirement through energy efficiency measures. This amendment will save consumers money, stimulate our economy, and strengthen our national security.

The aim of this amendment may seem far reaching, but the mechanism for doing so is not. A 15 percent national renewable electricity standard by the year 2020 is essential to our national security future.

Equally important to this debate, however, and contrary from what you hear from our opponents, the RES is absolutely achievable. In fact, almost half of the States of the Union already have an RES in place, but the full potential for renewable electricity will be left unrealized without the adoption of a Federal program to enhance the efforts of these States. We must enact a Federal RES, and we must do so now.

Momentum has been building, as evidenced by the fact that many of the RES standards enacted by States already have been exceeded. Subsequently, the standards have been increased. A national RES has passed the Senate three times. It has proven itself effective, efficient and popular. And it's time for the New Direction Congress to bring those benefits to the rest of the Nation.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, the staff work has been incredible on this, including my legislative director. I want to thank them all.

My cousin, who has been a key part in this effort, gave up his time so the Republicans could speak in a spirit of bipartisanship. With that, I would urge the rest of my colleagues to join me and my friends in passing this amendment and putting America on a path to a more secure energy future, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and reduce the energy bills for our children and grandchildren.

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