[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 129 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2260-E2261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




WIND ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT AND HEAVY DUTY HYBRID VEHICLE 
              RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION ACT

                                 minneso
                                 ta____
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 14, 2009

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for 
the Wind Energy Research and Development Act (H.R. 3165) and the Heavy 
Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act (H.R. 
445). I thank my colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee for 
their work on these important bills, which will help secure America's 
role as a global leader in innovation.
  An aggressive transition to a clean renewable energy economy is 
necessary to modernize America's economy for the 21st century. In this 
historic moment, we have the responsibility and the opportunity to 
secure America's place as a global hub of technological innovation, an 
economic leader, and a steward of our planet. Passage of H.R. 3165 and 
H.R. 445 will focus American ingenuity to achieve these important 
goals.

[[Page E2261]]

  Wind energy is a critical component of America's clean energy future. 
The growth potential for the industry is enormous: in 2008 alone the 
industry installed enough new wind energy production capacity to power 
over 2 million homes. My state of Minnesota is currently fourth in the 
nation for installed wind energy production capacity and is in the top 
ten states for wind energy production potential. However, like many new 
industries, the wind energy industry requires federal incentives to 
fuel its growth. The Wind Energy Research and Development Act 
authorizes an important new demonstration program at the Department of 
Energy to reduce the costs of construction, generation, and maintenance 
of wind energy systems. Developing these technologies will help reduce 
existing barriers to expansion of wind power around the country.
  America's shift to a clean energy economy requires the development of 
advanced vehicle technologies to save consumers money and reduce 
harmful emissions. In addition to clean passenger vehicles, we must 
modernize our commercial transport fleet. The Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle 
Research, Development and Demonstration Act will create a competitive 
grant program to support research, development and demonstration of 
advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicle technologies. This program will help 
make America's commercial transport fleet the cleanest and most 
efficient in the world.
  Transitioning to a clean energy economy and curtailing global climate 
change are two of the great challenges of our time--American innovation 
is the key to addressing them both. I urge my colleagues to support 
these two important pieces of legislation.

                          ____________________