[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1953]]



             INTRODUCTION OF THE HOME ENERGY GENERATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 24, 1999

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Home Energy 
Generation Act, which will benefit individuals and small business 
owners who are currently producing their own energy, or wish to do so 
in the future. This legislation is a necessary incentive to help 
increase the use of environmentally sustainable technologies, and give 
Americans the independence and self-sufficiency they deserve.
  The Home Energy Generation Act is a comprehensive ``net metering'' 
bill, which enables individuals who generate electricity using fuel 
cells or renewables such as wind, solar, or biomass, to receive credit 
for the surplus electricity they put back into the electricity grid. 
Credit for their excess energy generation is realized by allowing their 
electricity meter to literally run backwards when their energy unit is 
generating more energy than their household, farm, or small business is 
consuming.
  In addition to net metering, the Home Energy Generation Act addresses 
many other barriers which can prevent Americans from generating their 
own electricity. This bill sets uniform national reliability and safety 
standards for interconnection of electricity generation units into the 
electricity grid, by utilizing private professional organizations. 
National standards are absolutely imperative to the development of 
reliable and affordable technology to interconnect. (It was national 
standards that allowed multiple companies, and consequently multiple 
technologies to interconnect into the once monopolized AT&T telephone 
system.)
  The Home Energy Generation Act also allows retail electricity 
suppliers and utilities to count home energy generation capacity 
amongst their customers towards any renewable portfolio requirements.
  This bill will function in the current electricity industry 
legislative structure, or in a deregulated electricity industry. It 
gives families, farms, and small businesses the same right as 
industrial generators by allowing home generators to sell their end of 
the year energy credit on the open market. Under a restructured 
industry, this will likely create a market for home generated power.
  Although net metering is now allowed in 30 states, federal 
legislation is needed to create the national interconnectivity 
standards necessary to allow for safe and reliable interconnection, as 
well as to allow home generation industries to cost-effectively produce 
these technologies. In addition, this legislation is needed to resolve 
any uncertainty regarding state and local authority to implement net 
metering, since a state court has recently ruled that net metering 
requires explicit federal authority. This bill will provide that 
authority.
  This bill is truly a bipartisan effort. It has been an honor for me 
to work with Both Congressmen Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, and Vernon 
Ehlers of Michigan. In addition to these distinguished members, I would 
also like to thank the following original cosponsors to this important 
legislation: Mr. Brian Baird of Washington, Mr. Sherwood Boehlert of 
New York, Mr. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Mr. Merrill Cook of Utah, Mr. 
Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Mr. Norman Dicks of Washington, Mr. Lane Evans 
of Illinois, Mr. Sam Farr of California, Mr. Bob Filner of California, 
Mr. Martin Frost of Texas, Mr. Benjamin Gilman of New York, Mr. Luis 
Gutierrez of Illinois, Mr. Maurice Hinchey of New York, Mr. Patrick 
Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. James Leach of Iowa, Mr. John Lewis of 
Georgia, Mr. Jim McDermott of Washington, Mr. Jack Metcalf of 
Washington, Ms. Juanita Millender-McDonald of California, Ms. Nancy 
Pelosi of California, Mr. Ted Strickland of Ohio, Mr. Mark Udall of 
Colorado, Mr. Tom Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Robert Underwood of Guam, 
and Mr. Bruce Vento of Minnesota.
  Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following 
groups who have been so helpful in crafting this legislation. They 
include the Solar Energy Industry Association, American Wind Energy 
Industry Association, public utilities, private investor owned 
utilities, fuel cell advocates, and various consumer groups.
  I urge my colleagues to join me by cosponsoring the Home Energy 
Generation Act.

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