AWEA statement: Energy bill offers opportunity to attract new investment, deliver greater consumer savings
Apr 19 2016
AWEA statement: Energy bill offers opportunity to attract new investment, deliver greater consumer savings
Washington, D.C., April 19, 2016 — American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Tom Kiernan issued the following statement today on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016(S. 2012), also known as the Energy Bill.
Numerous amendments have been proposed to the Energy Bill. Of these amendments, Amendment 3311, introduced by Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), would hinder upgrades strengthening the nation’s existing transmission infrastructure and block access to greater consumer savings. Amendment 3312, proposed by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), would enable all Americans to buy Clean Energy Victory Bonds(Opens in a new window) and allow local, state, and federal governments to raise billions of dollars in investment:
“In order to attract new investment and deliver more savings to American consumers we strongly urge members of the Senate to oppose Amendment 3311 and support Amendment 3312. Amendment 3311 would impede private interstate transmission development between America’s world-class energy resources and densely populated parts of the U.S., making it harder to keep the lights on and blocking billions in consumer savings. Building long-range transmission to carry wind energy to U.S. population centers could result in $800 to $1,000 savings per person. By directing the Departments of Energy and Treasury to submit a plan to Congress to develop Clean Energy Victory Bonds, Amendment 3312 would help inject billions of dollars in clean energy innovation and create over one million jobs according to Sen. Udall.”