[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1567-E1568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE ENERGY ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4) to 
     enhance energy conservation, research and development and to 
     provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for 
     the American people, and for other purposes.

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, much like the Nation, the U.S. 
territories are headed down a dangerous path. Our energy demands are 
outpacing supply, resulting in blackouts, high fuel prices, and 
increasing dependence on foreign energy sources.
  These problems will only grow worse as electricity consumption 
continues to grow. Although we are hard pressed to pass legislation to 
address these issues, we must be mindful of the impact unbalanced 
legislation will have on our economy and our overall quality of life. 
We must pass legislation that offers a balance environmentally, 
socially, economically, and cognizant of national security and energy 
objectives.
  Developing a sound national energy policy presents a compelling 
challenge. It requires balancing policies to encourage energy 
conservation, efficiency, and supply. H.R. 4, the Securing America's 
Future Energy (SAFE) Act fails to create this balance.
  H.R. 4 fails to include a provision to explore the possibility of 
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) as a renewable energy source. It 
is our responsibility to explore every possible source of renewable 
energy available and OTEC is a viably option. OTEC can help meet future 
energy needs for the nation, and it may also be the most viable 
alternative for the U.S. insular areas.
  Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is an energy technology that 
converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the 
ocean's natural thermal gradient--the fact that the ocean's layers of 
water have different temperatures--to drive a power producing cycle. As 
long as the temperatures between the warm surface and the cold deep 
water differs about 20 degrees Celsius, an OTEC system can produce a 
significant amount of power. The oceans are thus a vast renewable 
resource, with the potential to help produce billions of watts of 
power.
  The economics of energy production today have delayed the financing 
of a permanent, continuously operating OTEC plant. However, OTEC is 
very promising as an alternative energy resource for tropical island 
communities that rely heavily on imported fuel.
  OTEC plants in tropical island communities could provide islanders 
with much needed power, as well as desalinated water and a variety of 
mariculture products. Because most insular areas are dependent on the 
importation

[[Page E1568]]

of foreign fuel supplies, there is a relatively high cost of diesel-
generated electricity. OTEC can be a cost effective source for the 
pacific islands.
  In addition to hydroelectricity, geothermal and the other renewable 
resources listed in H.R. 4, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) must 
also be considered as a renewable energy source.

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