[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            RENEWABLE ENERGY

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2009

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I would like to discuss an article in 
today's New York Times confirming that renewable energy industries--
especially wind and solar--have been slowed significantly by the credit 
crisis and the broader economic downturn.
  I believe that we should not allow frozen credit markets to derail 
renewable-energy projects, and we cannot allow reduced oil prices to 
lull us into complacency.
  We have an opportunity to address both of these concerns by working 
with the Senate, and with the Obama Administration, to pass the 
economic recovery package into law.
  I believe that the recovery package must extend tax credits for 
biofuels, wind, and solar. It must make infrastructure investments. It 
must increase federal dollars for energy research, development, and 
deployment. And it must encourage the production of alternative fuel 
motor vehicles, including plug-in electric drive vehicles.
  The time to act is now. A clean, green recovery package is our 
nation's best path to restoring our economy, and our best chance of 
creating jobs that cannot be outsourced.

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