Recognizing the Pacific Gas and Electric Energy Training Center
RECOGNIZING THE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC ENERGY TRAINING CENTER -- (Extensions of Remarks - January 27, 2004)
SPEECH OF HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2004
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Energy Training Center, which was established by Pacific Gas and Electric in 1978 to help California's low-income residents cope with rising utility costs, thus becoming the first utility company to offer energy education to members of the community.
Mr. Speaker, more than 46,000 people have been trained in the principles of energy efficiency, including employees from local community service agencies, private contractors, education specialists, and builders. Also, the Energy Training Center has provided training to employees of Pacific Gas and Electric Smarter Energy Line, which has assisted well over three million customer calls.
The Energy Training Center's innovative teaching techniques utilize hands-on experience. This has helped students perform more than two million energy surveys for single-family households and conduct site surveys on common-use areas serving more than one million multi-family units. All of this hard work has created more energy efficient households, and has conserved over 264 million kWh and over 34 million therms of energy, which has prevented more than 276 million pounds of carbon dioxide from polluting our environment.
Our community has greatly benefited from the Energy Training Center over the years, not only regarding energy conservation, but also from partnerships with local agencies. Throughout its years of operation, the Energy Training Center has made successful partnerships with the California Conservation Crops, California Energy Commission, and San Joaquin Delta College.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all my colleagues, I send my congratulations on the Energy Training Center's 25th Anniversary, and for setting a fine example of cooperation between private enterprise and the people it serves.
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