[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 129 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H7637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPO AND FORUM

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, what the American people want is for us in a 
bipartisan effort to come together and use all the energy tools in our 
energy tool box to, in fact, solve America's energy problems. Such an 
effort is being sponsored today in part by the House Renewable Energy 
and Efficiency Caucus, of which I am a member.
  Renewable energy and energy efficiency are important tools for 
reducing our reliance on imported oil and addressing climate change. In 
my home State of California in 2007, 23.5 percent of our electricity 
came from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, 
and hydroelectric facilities. We've made a lot of progress. The Fresno-
Yosemite Airport near my district recently installed solar panels that 
provide 40 percent of the airport's need for electricity. At my alma 
mater, Fresno State, we've built shaded parking using solar panels that 
provide over 20 percent of the energy necessary for the university. We 
also have dairy farmers and utility companies partnering together to 
generate electricity through methane gas.
  This is the kind of partnership and cooperation and collaboration we 
need. This is an exciting time for renewable energy and energy 
efficiency. I encourage all to visit this very important expo and forum 
in the Cannon Office Building.

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