[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 13, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H1362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1010
                 HOW ENERGY USE IMPACTS CLIMATE CHANGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McNerney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of how 
energy use impacts climate change and to show by example what is being 
done about it.
  Our Nation continues to rely on high-polluting energy sources that 
threaten our climate and threaten our national security. We need to 
focus at all levels of government, Federal, State, and local, as well 
as in the private sector to promote clean energy and energy efficiency. 
State and Federal facilities, above all else, should be the gold 
standard for clean energy and energy efficiency.
  For example, the Lincoln Unified School District, located in 
Stockton, California, recently committed to placing solar panels on 
rooftops throughout the school district. Lincoln was able to purchase 
these solar panels through low-interest Clean Renewable Energy Bonds to 
help finance this project that is estimated to save $1 million per year 
on energy costs. Not only does this project increase use of clean 
energy sources, but all the savings will be put back into educational 
programs, so this is truly a win-win for our students.
  In addition, the University of the Pacific, also located in Stockton, 
California, has increased energy efficiency and sustainability. Pacific 
installed solar panels, energy-efficient lightbulbs in the quad and 
other locations, installed a robust recycling program, and installed a 
replacement chiller on its air-conditioning system which uses 52 
percent less energy than the old chiller. It's impressive that these 
advancements were led by both students and faculty at the University of 
the Pacific.
  These are just two examples of why I am introducing the Solar Energy 
Deployment Act. We need to encourage greater use of solar and other 
clean energies in our neighborhoods and on public and private lands. 
The Solar Energy Deployment Act awards grants on a competitive basis to 
State and local governments to design and install solar equipment on 
rooftops and above parking lots they own.
  I commend the efforts made by the schools and public entities such as 
the Lincoln Unified School District, the University of the Pacific, and 
others across California and the United States that are making a 
concerted effort to utilize clean energy resources and to become more 
energy efficient.

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