[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E187-E188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IMPORTANCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE UTILITY RESTRUCTURING DEBATE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT L. KLUG

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 12, 1998

  Mr. KLUG. Mr. Speaker, legislation allowing all consumers to choose 
their electricity provider has been the subject of ongoing discussion 
during the past two sessions of Congress. It continues to be a topic 
that engages Congress and the American public. A majority of voters 
favor Congress requiring electricity companies to use renewable energy 
sources. In fact, almost 70% favor requiring utilities to invest in 
energy efficient programs. And, given a choice, 78% of Americans would 
be willing to pay more for non-polluting, environmentally-friendly 
electric power.
  With this mandate, I was honored yesterday to submit a letter to 
Chairman Bliley and Ranking Member Dingell, signed by myself and 105 of 
my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, urging that renewable 
energy remain part of the overall discussion on utility restructuring. 
I include this letter and the list of co-signors in the record and 
commend it to your attention. Thank you very much.


[[Page E188]]




                                Congress of the United States,

                                Washington, DC, February 11, 1998.
     Hon. Tom Bliley,
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     Committee on Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Chairman Bliley and Representative Dingell: 
     Maintaining a renewable energy option for America has been a 
     public policy supported by the past four Republican and 
     Democratic Administrations and by large bipartisan majorities 
     in the Congress. This is so because America's clean and 
     domestic renewable energy resources help create U.S. jobs, 
     contribute to a cleaner environment and healthier citizenry, 
     and strengthen U.S. energy security by increasing America's 
     diversity of domestic fuel supplies.
       As the U.S. electricity industry undergoes change, we want 
     to reiterate our strong support for maintaining America's 
     renewable energy option. We urge that, when the Commerce 
     Committee moves forward with electric industry restructuring 
     legislation, such legislation contains provisions ensuring 
     that the American people will continue to benefit from an 
     increased utilization of clean and domestic renewable energy 
     resources.
       Thank you for considering this request.
           Sincerely,
     Scott Klug.
     David Minge.
     Matt Salmon.
     Karen Thurman.


            List of Members Signing Renewable Energy Letter

       Scott Klug, (R-WI); Matt Salmon, (R-AZ); David Minge, (D-
     MN); Karen Thurman (D-FL) Sander Levin, (D-MI); Sherwood 
     Boehlert, (R-NY); Lucille Roybal-Allard, (D-CA); Constance 
     Morella, (R-MD); Benjamin Cardin, (D-MD); John Lewis, (D-GA); 
     Wayne Gilchrest, (R-MD); Vernon Ehlers, (R-MI); Peter 
     DeFazio, (D-OR); Ronald Dellums, (D-CA); Benjamin Gilman, (R-
     NY); Sue Kelly, (R-NY); Sue Kelly, (R-NY); Sam Farr, (D-CA); 
     Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR); Collin Peterson, (D-MN); Edolphus 
     Towns, (D-NY); Lynn Woolsey, (D-CA); Maurice Hinchey, (D-NY); 
     John Ensign, (R-NV); Lynn Rivers, (D-MI); Nita Lowey, (D-NY); 
     Patrick Kennedy, (D-RI); Tim Holden, (D-PA); Bud Cramer, (D-
     AL); Chris John, (D-LA); Jane Harman, (D-CA); Jose Serrano, 
     (D-NY); Frank Rigss, (R-CA); John Edward Porter, (R-IL); Ed 
     Pastor, (D-AZ); Jon Fox (R-PA); Ellen Tauscher, (D-CA); Owen 
     Pickett, (D-VA); Jim Turner, (D-TX); Roscoe Bartlett, (R-MD); 
     Gary Ackerman, (D-NY); Pasty Mink, (D-HI); James McGovern, 
     (D-MA); James Walsh, (R-NY); James Greenwood, (R-PA); John 
     Shimkus, (R-IL); Elizabeth Furse, (D-OR); Earl Pomeroy, (D-
     ND); William Delahunt, (D-MA); Christoper Shays, (R-CT); 
     Marion Berry, (D-AR); F. Allen Boyd, Jr., (D-FL); Henry 
     Waxman, (D-CA); Sony Bono, (R-CA); Michael Castle, (R-DE); 
     Tom Campbell, (R-CA); Lane Evans, (D-IL); Dale Kildee, (D-
     MI); Vic Fazio, (D-CA); Nathan Deal, (R-GA); Edward Markey, 
     (D-MA): Bob Filner, (D-CA); Ray LaHood, (R-IL); James 
     Oberstar, (D-MN); Barney Frank, (D-MA); John LaFalce, (D-NY); 
     George Brown, (D-CA); Frank Pallone, (D-NJ); Martin Olav 
     Sabo, (D-MN); Howard Berman, (D-CA); Esteban Torres, (D-CA); 
     James Rogan, (R-CA); Mark Foley, (R-FL); George Miller, (D-
     GA); Bruce Vento, (D-MN); Jim McDermott, (D-WA); Jim Leach, 
     (R-IA); Robert Scott, (D-VA); Eva Clayton, (D-NC); Nancy 
     Pelosi, (D-CA); Leonard Boswell, (D-IA); Martin Meehan, (D-
     MA); Lloyd Doggett, (D-TX); James Clyburn, (D-SC); Bart 
     Stupak, (D-MI); David Skaggs, (D-CO); David Bonior, (D-MI); 
     Nancy Johnson, (R-CT); Jim Davis, (D-FL); Jerrold Nadler, (D-
     NY); Dennis Kucinich, (D-OH); Bill Barrett, (R-NE); Darlene 
     Hooley, (D-OR); Bob Franks, (R-NY); John Olver, (D-MA); 
     Thomas Ewing (R-IL); Caroylyn Maloney, (D-NY); Jim Kolbe (R-
     AZ); Jay Dickey, (R-AR); Rick Lazio, (R-NY); Barbara 
     Kennelly, (D-CT); Rober Matsui, (D-CA); Bob Clement, (D-TN); 
     Joseph Kennedy II, (D-MA); Tom Davis, (R-VA); Zoe Lofgren, 
     (D-CA); Tom Lantos, (D-CA).

     

                          ____________________