February 4, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- Extensions of Remarks E197
ican Renewable Energy Act that I am introducing today would build upon that legislation and follows President Obama's goal that we generate 25 percent of our electricity from renewables by the year 2025.
Electric power generation is responsible for roughly 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions-the most prevalent of the heattrapping gases causing global warming. Right now, the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas currently produce more than 70 percent of U.S. electricity. However, the way that we generate electricity is already beginning to change dramatically.
In 2007, we installed 5,244 megawatts of new wind generation, which accounted for 35 percent of all new generation that came online, second only to natural gas. And in 2008, the United States installed more than 8,300 megawatts of new wind capacity-over 40 percent of all new generation that was brought online. That newly installed capacity in 2008 led to the creation of more than 35,000 jobs in the wind industry over the last year.
Much of that renewable generation is the result of states across the country that are putting policies in place to incentivize renewable generation. Already, 27 States and the District of Columbia have adopted renewable electricity standards at the State level. Adopting a national renewable electricity standard will further unleash our technological innovation and allow for the development of renewable resources all across the country.
Every region of the country has renewable resources waiting to be tapped. For instance, the Southeast is home to nearly a third of the biomass feedstock potential in the entire country. Special power plants can burn biomass exclusively and existing coal plants can co-fire biomass in their fuel stream without costly equipment upgrades, replacing 15 percent or more of fossil fuel needs with renewable fuel.
Customer-sited solar photovoltaic cells would also earn triple credits under the legislation that I am introducing today, making the target much easier to achieve in places like Florida and Georgia where the solar photovoltaic resource is estimated to be 83-85 percent of the best solar resources in the world.
Adopting a national renewable electricity standard can reinvigorate our economy and our manufacturing sectors by creating an entire new cadre of green-collar jobs. Each wind turbine requires 220 to nearly 400 tons of steal to produce and workers to produce it.
From the revamped Maytag plant that is now producing wind turbines in Iowa to the former Ohio manufacturing plant that President Obama visited on his way to Washington, alternative energy can revitalize our declining manufacturing centers all across our country.
Adopting a 25 percent renewable electricity standard will create more than 350,000 green jobs by 2020-allowing the people who most need work to do the work that most needs to be done in order to address the climate crisis.
Moreover, adopting a renewable electricity standard will save consumers money by reducing their energy bills. Adopting a national standard of 25 percent will save consumers more than $49 billion over the next decade in lower energy bills, while channeling more than $70 billion in new investment into renewable technologies.
The American people overwhelming support a national renewable electricity standard. According to a December poll conducted by the
ica, Troop 280, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.
Andy has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Andy has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.
Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Andy M. Brock for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.
f HONORING THE SERVICE OF ROY G. SMITH, ARKANSAS STATE DIRECTOR FOR USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT HON. JOHN BOOZMAN OF ARKANSAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Arkansas' USDA Rural Development Director, Roy G. Smith for his outstanding efforts to improve the quality of life for all rural Americans.
Roy has been a lifelong champion for rural communities; both as a farmer and as an advocate, joining the Farmers Home Administration, a predecessor to today's USDA Rural Development 40 years ago. Under his guidance countless Arkansans have benefitted from millions of dollars in projects to make their lives better.
We are blessed to have had Roy at helm for the past three and a half years and I am blessed to have him as a friend. I have enjoyed the Rural Development Tours where he showcased just some of the latest funded projects. I have been to many check presentations with Roy and I will remember his encouragement of getting civic leaders to sign the check ``to get enough signatures to make the check float.'' Roy has done a tremendous job of meeting the needs of rural Arkansans. His leadership will be missed but his influence will be felt for years to come.
f THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AMERICAN RENEWABLE ENERGY ACT HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. MARKEY. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the ``American Renewable Energy Act'' to create a national renewable electricity standard that will revitalize our economy by creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs, save consumers billions of dollars on their energy bills and reduce our Nation's global warming pollution by dramatically increasing our use of clean, renewable power. In the 110th Congress, the House repeatedly passed a national renewable electricity standard in overwhelming, bipartisan votes requiring that 15 percent of our electricity come from renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass and efficiency gains by 2020. The Amer
reported for several decades; however this piece of legislation provides the first uniform national reporting for all deaths in law enforcement and correctional custody. H.R. 738 will now make it possible to ascertain the percentage of deaths by suicides and homicides, or from natural causes, which will result in a significant improvement in the oversight of prisoner treatment. With the detailed statistical data, policy makers, both state and federal, can make informed policy judgments about the treatment of prisoners leading to great success in lowering the prisoner death rate. In fact, since the focus on deaths in custody emerged in the mid-1980's, the latest BJS report, dated August 2005, shows a 64 percent decline in suicides and a 93 percent decline in the homicide rate.
Madam Speaker, between 2001 and 2004, state prison authorities nationwide reported a total of 12,129 state prisoner deaths to the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP). Total number of deaths excludes 258 State prison executions during 2001-2004.
Nearly 9 in 10 of these deaths (89 percent) were attributed to medical conditions. Less than 1 in 10 were the result of suicide (6 percent) and homicide (2 percent), while alcohol/ drug intoxication and accidental injury accounted for another 1 percent each. A definitive cause could not be determined for 1 percent of these deaths.
The Deaths in Custody Reporting Act requires that states receiving federal funding report quarterly to the Attorney General, in methods prescribed by the Attorney General, the circumstances surrounding the death of any person in custody of a state prison or local jail, which includes any person in the process of arrest, en route to incarceration, incarceration in any state facility (municipal jail, county jail, prison, juvenile facility or any other State or local correctional facility).
In 1983, the State of Texas Legislature passed laws requiring the reporting of all custodial deaths in Texas. The data was to involve deaths that occur in the process of arrest, as well as those deaths that occurred while confined in a jail or any correctional facility. This information was reported to the State Attorney General's Office, and Prosecutor Assistance-Special Investigation Division. The reports were aimed to be vital pieces to investigations and for open records requests. The failure to report a death to the proper authorities would result in a misdemeanor offense.
Madam Speaker, this legislation provides for detailed statistical data, that allows for policy makers, both state and federal, to make informed policy judgments about the treatment of prisoners leading to great success in lowering the prisoner death rate. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
f HONORING ANDY M. BROCK HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Andy M. Brock a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of Amer
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