[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 158 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SOLAR TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 22, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 3585) to 
     guide and provide for United States research, development, 
     and demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Solar 
Technology Roadmap Act because I believe that a strong commitment to 
solar technology is essential if we're going to lead our country into a 
robust clean energy economy.
  I want to commend my colleague from New York, Mr. Hinchey, for his 
leadership and for partnering with me to ensure that there's a diverse 
regional balance in the Solar Technology Roadmap.
  I'd especially like to thank Chairman Gordon for incorporating the 
Israel Amendment into his Manager's Amendment. This language requires 
the Solar Roadmap Committee to work with the Departments of Interior 
and Defense, the National Park Service, and the General Services 
Administration on the potential for solar demonstration projects on 
federal lands. We must be using all the resources we have to tap into 
renewable energy.
  We have significant resources in the National Parks and on military 
bases around the country. Just last month, I was hiking in the Grand 
Canyon and realized the enormous potential for renewable energy on the 
roofs of visitors centers alone. This past spring I was at Fort Drum 
touring the expansive land available there for a robust solar 
installation that will contribute to an independent energy supply for 
the base. Our National Parks and federal lands should be landmarks for 
innovation, efficiency and renewable energy.
  Currently, National Parks' renewable energy generation rates are only 
1.5 percent of their total average need. The Park Service needs to 
install 5.8 MW of renewable energy sources between now and 2013 to meet 
current federal mandates. Just 50 of our 391 National Parks use 80 
percent of the total energy consumed by the National Park Service. 
Solar demonstration projects in these high-use parks could tremendously 
reduce the energy consumption of the entire National Park system.
  The DOD is the single largest energy user in the United States. Any 
marginal increases in efficiency or the use of renewable sources could 
have significant impacts on civilian supply. According to DOD reports, 
the military consumes 1.2 percent of the energy required in the entire 
country. By 2013, the military must acquire 7.5 percent of its 
electricity from renewables. Energy is not just an economic and 
environmental issue, but this shows that it's a national security issue 
as well.
  Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding and look forward to 
continuing to work with him to reform U.S. energy policy.

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