[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE EFFECTER ACT ``EFFICIENT ENERGY THROUGH CERTIFIED 
         TECHNOLOGIES AND ELECTRICITY RELIABILITY ACT OF 2004''

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as our country celebrates 
Earth Day to introduce the Efficient Energy Through Certified 
Technologies and Electricity Reliability EFFECTER Act of 2004. I am 
joined in this effort by a substantial and diverse coalition of my 
colleagues including Mr. Markey of Massachusetts, my Chairman Mr. Lewis 
of California, Mr. Matsui of California, as well as Senator Snowe of 
Maine and Senator Feinstein of California. This bill is a more 
developed version of the EFFECT Act that Mr. Markey and I introduced in 
March 2003.
  With the President's Energy Plan currently stalled in the other body, 
we believe that this bill can deliver on one of the less controversial 
issues when it comes to energy policy--energy efficiency. I support the 
President's Energy Plan and voted in favor of H.R. 6 when it came 
before this body for final passage. Unfortunately, politics has 
prevented this fine legislation from implementing a desperately needed 
energy policy in this country.
  My constituents in San Diego suffered through the Energy Crisis 
during the summer of 2001. The aftershocks of the rolling blackouts and 
outrageously high energy prices are still being felt. Gas prices in 
California are currently the highest in the country at over $2.50 per 
gallon. The entire Eastern seaboard suffered through a major blackout 
last August, also suffering the consequences of needing the 
comprehensive energy policy of H.R. 6. We risk another major blackout 
and continually soaring fuel prices if we choose to wait for the 
politicking to end and H.R. 6 to be implemented. My constituents, the 
American people need solutions now. I am introducing this bill in an 
effort to pass a portion of our long-term energy plan that can produce 
results now.
  In our legislation introduced last year, Congressman Markey and I 
created legislation that would give builders and consumers a reason to 
construct housing and purchase equipment that not only saves the 
consumer money in the long run, but also helps save energy. We have 
taken this idea and have put it into this bill along with other cost-
saving provisions. This legislation offers tax incentives to encourage 
the production and sale of technologically advanced, energy-efficient 
buildings and equipment. The incentives will reduce peak power demand, 
which can diffuse the risk of blackouts and high electricity prices. 
Peak power shortages cost California $15 billion in 2000 alone.
  These tax incentives are performance based, not cost based. One 
dollar of federal tax incentives for energy efficiency offered today 
will not be paid until January-April 2005, but manufacturers will 
respond to the incentives by investing in production facilities for 
more efficient products immediately. This will promote the creation of 
competitive markets for new technologies and designs that are not 
widely available today, but have the possibility of being cost 
effective to the consumer in the future.
  This bill will have the government lead by example by cutting our own 
energy bills by upgrading our building energy efficiency standards and 
purchase specifications, and reauthorizing Federal Energy Savings 
Performance Contracts, which allow private companies to partner with 
the government for mutually beneficial cost-effective energy savings. 
Finally, it includes mandatory electricity reliability requirements 
that address directly the failures that caused the blackout of 2003.
  This bill increases the security and reliability of the electric 
grid, while reducing natural gas and electricity prices by cutting the 
demand for natural gas and electricity in the near term, as well as in 
the longer term. Grid security is improved by adopting mandatory 
standards for operation.
  The EFFECTER Act seeks to address two key power supply issues--
electric reliability and natural gas prices. Reducing peak electric 
demand not only eases pressure on the electric grid but also reduces 
utility demand for natural gas, a major factor that has led to higher 
prices. Over the next ten years, this legislation can produce natural 
gas savings of over 3.3 quads annually--over 12 percent of total gas 
use; and peak electricity savings of 145,000 megawatts--equivalent to 
350 new power plants of 400 MW capacity.
  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Earth Day, please join me in supporting 
the EFFECTER Act which will help reduce energy needs and provide for a 
cleaner environment. Let's respond to our country's desperate needs 
today, before we have another energy crisis.

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