[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PRYOR (for himself and Mr. Udall of New Mexico):
  S. 1586. A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a 
Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Program, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Tom Udall to 
introduce the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export 
Assistance Act of 2011. Recently, the United States Council for 
International Business, which represents America's top global 
companies, joined with an array of leading U.S. business groups in 
urging ramped-up efforts to promote U.S. clean energy exports.
  Global demand, particularly in rapidly-growing markets such as 
Brazil, China, India and Russia, will be especially critical in 
expanding America's clean energy technology industries and driving U.S. 
leadership of a 21st Century clean energy economy. According to a 
report by the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. trade deficit with 
China in clean energy products more than doubled from 2008 to 2010 and 
was estimated to cost more than 8,000 U.S. jobs in 2010.
  The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Department of Commerce 
International Trade Administration to establish a Clean Energy 
Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Program to ensure that 
United States clean energy technology firms, including clean energy 
technology parts suppliers and engineering and design firms, have the 
information and assistance they need to be competitive and create clean 
energy technology sector jobs in the United States.
  The Commerce Department is the leading agency to promote clean energy 
exports for the President's newly established Trade Promotion 
Coordinating Committee within his National Export Initiative. 
Specifically, the bill requires the International Trade Administration 
to assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance to help them 
navigate foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad, 
enhance U.S. Clean Tech Manufacturing firms by requiring ITA to promote 
policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, 
investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology sector, and 
to develop and implement a National Clean Energy Technology Export 
Strategy.
  Arkansas is becoming a national leader in clean energy technology. 
Several companies--LM Windpower, Nordex, and Mitsubishi Power Systems--
have established wind turbine manufacturing plants in Arkansas. 
Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc. is a small business 
dedicated to developing and marketing state-of-the-art technology in 
power electronics systems, electronic motor drives, and power 
electronics packaging. BlueInGreen, a Fayetteville company, makes 
energy efficient products to improve and maintain water quality. 
Silicon Solar Solutions, an Arkansas-based startup, is commercializing 
its large grain polysilicon technology company. All of these companies 
will benefit by having a focused clean energy trade and export program 
established within the International Trade Administration.

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