Legislation aimed at saving taxpayer money, protecting the environment, reducing consumption of foreign oil and creating green jobs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Adam Schiff kicked off the 111th Congress with the introduction of legislation aimed at boosting the federal government's ability to purchase solar, wind and other sources of renewable energy.
The bill, H.R. 175, demonstrates the importance of investing in clean, alternative energy by repealing an antiquated law that limits the length of federal government energy contracts to 10 years. The federal government is one of the largest energy consumers in the country, spending more than $10 billion annually.
"Through its procurement process, the federal government has tremendous power to influence the demand for new technologies," said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. "By harnessing the power of federal purchasing on behalf of renewable energy, we can provide a significant boost to this emerging industry and reduce the government's environmental impact at the same time."
The legislation introduced by Giffords and Schiff would allow the General Services Administration to enter into renewable energy contracts for 30 years. The GSA manages most non-military federal properties and is in the process of "greening" federal buildings. This process includes the installation of solar panels.
But because installing solar energy requires a large upfront investment, the cost can be prohibitive. The private sector has already found a solution to this problem: Many new solar projects are installed, owned and operated by a solar services provider, which then sells the power at a constant rate to the customer. With this model, the customer gets clean, local power and protection against increasing energy bills, without a large initial outlay.
The GSA has difficulty signing such contracts because of a statutory requirement that any energy contracts it signs can last at most 10 years, a period of time too short for service providers to recoup their investment.
"The federal government must practice what it preaches," said Schiff, a Southern California lawmaker who serves on the House Appropriations Committee. "In Washington we have often called on Americans to use more clean alternative energy solutions. This bill will send a message that the federal government, one of the largest consumers of energy, can do its part too. It is a common sense measure that will help save taxpayer money, protect our environment, create green jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil."