[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 113 (Thursday, July 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1479-E1480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF 
              ENVIRONMENTALLY-SAFE COMPOSITE UTILITY POLES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing 
legislation to encourage the domestic development, adoption and 
deployment of recyclable and environmentally-safe composite utility 
poles for use in the distribution and transmission of electricity. As 
Congress works to invest in our nation's electricity infrastructure to 
deliver critical new sources of energy to our cities and towns, it is 
time we also modernize the electricity delivery infrastructure so that 
it is more reliable, environmentally-safe, and cost-efficient than the 
current, century-old model. Our 21st Century electricity infrastructure 
must meet the changing demands of a diverse society, survive unforeseen 
natural disasters, and help deliver technology to improve our lives. 
Composite utility poles meet these demands.
  Composite products are made from a variety of components such as 
glass, resins and fiber reinforcements that, when combined, produce 
stronger and lighter materials. Composites are integrated into products 
surrounding us every day, including swimming pools, cars, airplanes, 
wind turbines, and power plant cooling towers. Composite manufacturing 
in the United States is a fast growing, $70-billion industry that 
employs approximately 550,000 Americans. My legislation will help 
spread this innovative technology to our nationwide network of 
approximately 130 million aging wooden utility poles. In the process, 
we also will create high quality, long-term manufacturing jobs here at 
home.
  Composite utility poles last longer and are considerably lighter than 
wood, concrete and steel. They do not require treatment with harmful 
chemicals to prevent decay; as a result, they can be used in 
environmentally-sensitive areas, such as deserts, marshlands, national 
parks, forests and monument areas. Composite poles withstand severe 
weather conditions, including extreme temperature changes and fierce 
winds. They also are impervious to corrosion and require little 
maintenance, key issues for places like Chicago that must use salt 
often during winter to address icy road conditions and lose many steel 
and wooden poles due to the associated corrosiveness of the salt. In 
urban areas, composite poles can internally house WiFi and other 
wireless infrastructure and help clean up streetscapes by replacing 
unstable and unsightly chemically-treated poles with fewer composite 
poles. Composite pole life expectancy ranges from two to three times as 
long as traditional wood poles.
  My bill takes two steps to promote the development and use of these 
utility poles. First, it amends the advanced manufacturing credit to 
allow the Treasury Department and the Energy Department to consider 
allocating a credit to the advancement of composite technology for our 
nation's energy infrastructure. Second, it provides a 30% tax credit to 
purchasers of composite poles that contain 15% recyclable or bio-
content material, are recyclable at the end of their life, and are used 
for electricity distribution and transmission. This credit is intended 
as a catalyst to expedite the adoption and deployment of composite 
utility poles, helping taxpayers invest in this new infrastructure. As 
such, this credit would expire after five years.
  In closing, I urge my colleagues to join me in co-sponsoring this 
legislation to ensure that green energy is transported by green 
infrastructure.

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