[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 105 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RIALTO RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues and the Administration an innovative clean-energy project 
currently under development in my District in California.
  The Rentech Rialto Renewable Energy Center will be a first-of-its-
kind facility, where biomass from grass clippings and tree trimmings 
from surrounding communities is converted into diesel fuel and electric 
power.
  The electric power from this project, so greatly needed in our 
region, will contribute to utility efforts to meet obligations under 
the California Renewables Portfolio Standard, displacing current, 
conventional fossil energy-based power generation.
  Because the fuel produced is biodegradable, cutting pollution 
significantly compared to conventional fuels, eight airlines (Alaska 
Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, 
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways) have 
already signed a contract to buy this fuel for their ground equipment 
at Los Angeles International Airport.
  I consider this to be a model project that other cities in California 
and around our country can adopt to not only help cut our dependence on 
foreign oil, but also to reduce emissions of green house gasses and 
pollutants.
  I have urged the Department of Energy to give the Rialto Renewable 
Energy Center all due consideration as it considers Rentech's 
application for a Title 17 loan guarantee under the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act.
  This project exemplifies what Congress had in mind when it created a 
new category in this program for ``renewable energy systems'' and 
``leading edge biofuels projects'' that ``substantially reduce life-
cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to other transportation 
fuels.''
  This project will bring energy security, as well as environmental and 
economic benefits to our community. Two-hundred and fifty jobs will be 
created during construction, and once operational, there will be about 
70 permanent jobs on the site.
  Additional jobs will be created or sustained both upstream in the 
collection and transportation of the green waste or downstream in the 
distribution of the fuel. Rialto and San Bernardino have been 
especially hard hit by the recession, and these jobs are desperately 
needed in my District.
  Today I again call upon the Department of Energy to support this 
project for the many benefits that it will not only bring to San 
Bernardino County and the rest of Southern California and the Inland 
Empire, but also for the benefits that our nation will reap from future 
versions of this project located in other areas.

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