Oregon Watchdog: Walden: spend rebate checks on energy efficiency

U. S. CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN
OREGON 2ND DISTRICT
PRESS RELEASE: : February 15, 2008

Walden, Baird and others from Northwest
to encourage Americans to spend rebate checks on energy efficient products

- WASHINGTON, D.C. - When Americans begin receiving tax rebate checks from the recently passed economic stimulus package, Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Congressman Brian Baird (D-Wash.) and a bipartisan group of 17 legislators hope consumers will invest it in energy conservation and renewable energy products.

A resolution introduced yesterday by Congressman Baird in the House of Representatives calls on Americans to use their tax rebate checks to purchase renewable energy and energy-efficiency products and services. The resolution, H. Res. 987, also urges retailers and service providers to offer promotions that will encourage Americans to purchase products and services that will help conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Consumers in the Pacific Northwest have long made a commitment toward renewable energy, recycling and conservation. Here’s a chance to do even more by investing the rebate check into more efficient energy uses, such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, or further weatherizing around doors and windows. Reducing energy consumption saves money and helps the environment, too,” said Walden, who serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

“When it comes to innovative renewable energy generation, Saturday, I’ll help dedicate a new biomass, co-gen facility in Cave Junction that turns forest waste and mill ends into steam to dry lumber and to make electricity at the Rough and Ready mill. The biomass that the facility will use is forest debris that would otherwise be left on the forest floor adding to dangerous fuel loads that contribute to catastrophic wildfires as we’ve seen over the years in southern Oregon. Instead, this new facility will decrease the amount of other energy needed to dry lumber, produce new jobs, and put electricity into the northwest power grid. America’s energy independence will occur one step at a time, and this is another step in the right direction,” Walden said.

“When the Administration and Congress first proposed the stimulus package, I urged them to take this opportunity to address the link between our current economic situation and our energy crisis by investing immediately in conservation and renewable energy initiatives,” said Congressman Baird. “With the cost of gasoline, electricity, and home heating oil rising dramatically in recent years, it’s time for Americans to think outside of the box and reduce their energy use. If consumers choose to invest in energy conservation, they’ll experience a win-win-win situation by saving on energy bills, helping to lower energy costs, and joining in the effort to help our country reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“I hope Americans make their rebate checks go green by investing in energy-efficiency upgrades or clean-energy technologies that will help them save on energy costs in the long run,” added a co-sponsor of the resolution, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

Additional cosponsors of the resolution include Co-chairs of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, Reps. Mark Udall (CO-02) and Zach Wamp (TN-03), along with Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Adam Smith (WA-09), Bart Gordon (TN-06), Patrick Murphy (PA-08), Diane DeGette (CO-01), Chris Murphy (CT-05), Vernon Ehlers (MI-03), Chris Van Hollen (MD-08), Joe Crowley (NY-07), Bob Etheridge (NC-2), Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), Allyson Schwartz (PA- 13), Fred Upton (MI-6).

The full text of the resolution is below:

RESOLUTION

Encouraging Americans to join others across the country in using their rebate checks to invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services in order to save money, stimulate the economy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Whereas economists have concluded that the economy of the United States may be entering a recession;

Whereas Congress passed a stimulus package that will provide rebate checks to American families in an effort to provide a short-term stimulus to the economy;

Whereas the slowing economy is due in large part to the Nation’s heavy reliance on limited energy resources and skyrocketing energy prices;

Whereas the cost of gasoline, electricity, and home heating oil has risen dramatically in recent years;

Whereas energy prices are expected to continue to increase;

Whereas the use of traditional energy sources results in greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming and ocean acidification;

Whereas the United States, along with China, leads the world in greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for approximately 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions;

Whereas the United States’ dependence on foreign oil is a national security issue;

Whereas investment in renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services drives research and technological advances, generating job resources and opportunities;

Whereas reducing energy consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy will lower energy prices, reduce greenhouse gases, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and create jobs;

Whereas reducing energy use will save consumers money over the longrun by lowering electricity, home heating oil, and gasoline costs; and

Whereas our Nation faces an unpredictable future if we do not make significant investments in renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives—

(1) encourages Americans to join others across the country in using their rebate checks to invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services in order to save money, stimulate the economy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

(2) urges retailers and service providers to offer promotions to encourage Americans to use their rebate checks to invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services.
###