[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1377-E1378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3816, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3816) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Schaefer 
amendment.
  Pulling the plug on our Nation's investment in solar and renewable 
technology is shortsighted. The funding reductions contained in the 
bill threaten to undermine any hope the United States has for energy 
security. Renewable energy programs offer enormous benefits for a very 
small investment.
  I know something about this issue as a company in my district--United 
Solar Systems Corp. of Troy, MI--developed a solar cell that recently 
set a new world record for converting the Sun's energy into 
electricity. This efficiency record would not have been achieved 
without the assistance of the Federal Government.
  Most of us are familiar with the solar cells that power calculators 
and other consumer

[[Page E1378]]

products. The new solar products developed by United Solar are a full 
four to five times more efficient.
  Not only are the new solar cells better at converting sunlight into 
usable electricity, they are also cheaper to make. Again, this is an 
example of progress that would not have been made without a public-
private partnership.
  The progress we've made is proof that private industry and government 
can work together to develop technology that creates new jobs in the 
United States, increases our Nation's energy security, and protects the 
environment.
  At the same time, there is a large and growing world market for 
renewable energy and efficiency technologies. This market is worth 
hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade.
  If our Nation does not help American companies to develop the 
technologies to capture this market, we will abandon the field to our 
international competitors. Japan and Germany invest far more in their 
nation's photovoltaic programs than we do.
  The bottom line is that new industries, jobs and wealth will go to 
the nations who succeed in developing and applying new technologies. If 
you want to let other countries win the technology race, then vote 
against the Schaefer amendment.
  Once again, I urge support for solar and renewable energy. Vote for 
the amendment.

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