Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, in 2012, an award of $8 million was provided to design and build a 1.8-megawatt solar system at the John L. McClellan VA Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. It has been almost 2 years since that planned activation was to begin operating. However, reports in our local media have indicated that there is additional engineering and that it is not functioning and not operational. Further, sections of the solar panels for this system are now being torn down in order to be relocated to make way for a parking deck that was planned before the installation had begun of the solar panels. Many questions remain unanswered about this project and when the VA plans to fully implement this supposed cost-saving system to provide energy for the facility.

Further, I found from the VA's own Web site a list of 40 key energy projects that are designated as ``works in progress'' by the VA under its key renewable energy program. Some of these date back to 2010; yet they have not been completed and have not been made operational. There are over 90 solar projects that have been funded under this program and 198 projects that have been funded under the VA's Green Management Program. Some of these projects individually have cost the taxpayers up to $20 million. The Little Rock project is only projected to save $150,000 annually in energy costs, which would make the payback on that $8 million investment some 50 years.

On April 8, I sent a letter to Secretary McDonald, asking for answers about these solar systems, in Little Rock particularly, about the relocation of the panels at the facility, and about the activation date. Senator John Boozman and I have called for an IG investigation into this project and into other aspects of the key renewable energy program to ensure that the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars are safeguarded.

This amendment would simply prevent any new funding for these projects this fiscal year, allowing Congress the additional time to conduct oversight and allowing the VA to ensure that this program is effective.

It is essential that we demand accountability and transparency when utilizing taxpayer dollars for these kinds of government projects. I urge the passage of this amendment.

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