[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S10721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY CAUCUS

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about a subject that 
is near and dear to my heart, the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy 
Efficiency Caucus.
  Would the distinguished gentlemen from North Dakota and Idaho engage 
in a colloquy with me on this topic?
  Mr. DORGAN. I would be pleased to engage in such a colloquy.
  Mr. CRAPO. I would also like to join my colleagues in a colloquy on 
this matter.
  Mr. ALLARD. I thank my colleagues. The need for a strong renewable 
energy policy has never been more timely. This is something I have 
worked on for many years. As a member of the House of Representatives I 
was a member of the House Renewable Energy Caucus, and when I was 
elected to the Senate, discovered that no such similar caucus existed 
here. So I, along with Senators Jeff Bingaman, Tim Johnson, Jim 
Jeffords, and Bob Kerry, founded the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy 
Efficiency Caucus.
  The caucus is still going strong today with leadership from Senator 
Byron Dorgan, Senator Joe Lieberman, and myself. It is a nonpartisan 
group that strives to increase awareness of the various forms of 
renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in the United 
States.
  I have been honored to serve as the Republican cochair since the 
inception of the Senate caucus, during this time we have seen the 
caucus membership grow and today more than a third of the Senate is a 
member. The caucus has hosted numerous events and briefings and helped 
hundreds of renewable energy groups display their ideas and 
technologies. It has also been a forum for sharing thousands of news 
articles relating to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  As many of you know, I am retiring from the Senate at the end of this 
term and will no longer serve as cochair of the caucus. I am proud of 
the work that the caucus has done, and I am confident it will continue 
to do great work in the future.
  I know it will do great work in the future because it will have 
strong leadership. I greatly appreciate the work of the other cochairs, 
Senators Dorgan and Lieberman. They have a remarkable dedication to 
renewable energy. With the addition of the new Republican cochair, I 
have no doubt that the caucus will be as strong as ever.
  The man replacing me on the caucus is an ardent advocate for 
renewable energy, Senator Mike Crapo. As a member of the Senate Finance 
Committee, Senator Crapo has helped craft successful legislation to 
provide tax credits for production and investment in renewable energy 
such as wind, solar, and geothermal, and as a member of the Senate 
Agriculture Committee, he supported expanded usage of renewable 
biofuels.
  Senator Crapo also represents a State that is passionate about 
renewable energy and energy efficiency. The State of Idaho has received 
awards for its dedication to renewable energy and cutting edge research 
is taking place every day at the fine colleges and universities in 
Idaho.
  Mr ALLARD. Senator Dorgan, you have helped me cochair the caucus for 
several years, and your efforts have been invaluable. Do you share my 
estimation that Senator Crapo will make a strong co-chair?
  Mr. DORGAN. Yes.
  Mr. ALLARD. Senator Crapo you have been a strong advocate for 
renewable energy for years, and I am sure are looking forward to 
cochairing the caucus. Do you have any comments?
  Mr. CRAPO. Yes. I have long admired the work of Senator Allard in 
forming and developing the caucus over the years. I am honored to be 
chosen as the next cochair of the caucus and am eager to build on the 
work he has accomplished thus far.
  As you mentioned, my home State of Idaho is one of the Nation's 
leaders in renewable energy. Idaho has significant and developed 
hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy resources, which has led us to 
have one of the five lowest per capita and total emissions profiles of 
any State. The research being done on these technologies, as well as 
energy efficiency, biofuels, and alternative energy resources such as 
nuclear power at the Idaho National Laboratory, University of Idaho, 
Boise State and Idaho State Universities, is remarkable and nationally 
recognized.
  Energy issues have arrived at center stage in the public eye and 
energy supply, prices, and environmental effects are at the forefront 
of concern. All of us here, regardless of political affiliation, can 
agree that developing a sound domestic energy plan that provides an 
adequate supply of clean and affordable energy is a benefit to our 
Nation. I look forward, along with Senators Dorgan and Lieberman, to 
educating members and promoting renewable energy and efficiency 
measures in the upcoming Congress to achieve that goal.

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