Research, Education and Training Programs to Facilitate Adoption of Solar Energy Technologies

Opening Statement By Vice-Chair Gabrielle Giffords

I want to thank Chairman Gordon, Ranking Member Hall, Chairman Lampson, and Ranking Member Inglis for holding this hearing on solar energy today.

Solar energy offers one of the best solutions to the greatest challenges facing our nation – global warming, dependence on foreign oil, and concerns about American competitiveness.

It has tremendous potential across the United States, especially in regions like Southern Arizona, where we have over 300 days of sunshine every year.

Solar energy is a non-partisan issue. The sun beats down on Democrats, Republicans, and Independents with equal intensity, and we can all benefit from harnessing the power of the sun.

It stimulates business development, creates new jobs, helps protect our environment, and promotes energy independence.

My legislation, entitled The Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007, will move solar energy forward by targeting some of the gaps that several experts have identified in our national solar energy strategy.

Today, we will hear expert opinions on the discussion draft that was circulated.

This is a great first step in the overall solar energy agenda for the 110th Congress. I am considering other pieces of legislation, and I know that other House Committees are looking at solar-related bills. As we move forward, the cumulative efforts to advance the use of solar energy should be very positive.

Let me briefly summarize the four components of this bill.

The first component would establish a “Thermal Energy Storage Research and Development Program” within the Department of Energy. This will help us solve perhaps the most significant problem with concentrating solar power technology: energy storage. We need more advanced technology so that we can store solar energy produced during the day and use it at night or on a cloudy day. This is all about energy reliability and viability. We need to assure the public that they will have enough electricity when the sun goes down.

The second component would require DOE to conduct two “Concentrating Solar Power Commercial Application Studies”.

One would study methods to integrate concentrating solar power energy into regional electricity transmission systems. The best time of the day to produce and use solar energy is from 10am-5pm. We need to research how to connect major solar power plants to the electric grid, relieve expensive demand on electric utilities, and use solar energy during these peak hours. It also makes sense to examine how to bring electricity from high solar resource areas, like Arizona and Nevada, to meet energy needs throughout the United States.

The other study would require DOE to inform Congress on methods to reduce the amount of water consumed by concentrating solar power systems. CSP has its greatest potential in the Southwest United States, and like all power plants, it requires the use of water. Given the strain on water resources in this region, we must research ways to reduce water consumption so that we can realize the benefits of CSP technology.

The third component of this legislation will authorize a competitive grant program at DOE to create and strengthen solar industry workforce training and internship programs in installation, operation, and maintenance of solar energy products. The goal of this program is to ensure an adequate supply of well-trained individuals to support the expansion of the solar energy industry. If we want to increase our use of solar energy, we have got to make sure that we have a trained, qualified workforce. This section will promote job growth in the fast-growing solar industry.

Lastly, we’ve got beef for dinner, and we’ve all got milk. But who’s gone solar? The fourth component of this bill will create a Solar Energy Industries Research and Commercial Application Board to plan and coordinate projects of research, commercial application, certification, information, and other purposes of benefit to the application of solar technologies. This public-private partnership will also help the general public understand how they can benefit from solar energy technology. I want to note that this program will be paid for by the solar industry and will cost the taxpayer absolutely nothing.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this important legislation.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Mr. Herb Hayden
Solar Technology Coordinator Arizona Public Service Arizona Public Service
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2 - Mr. Rhone Resch
President Solar Energy Industries Association Solar Energy Industries Association
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4 - Prof. Joseph Sarubbi
Chair Building Systems Technology Department Hudson Valley Community College Building Systems Technology Department Hudson Valley Community College
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3 - Ms. Jane M. Weissman
Executive Director Interstate Renewable Energy Council Interstate Renewable Energy Council
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5 - Dr. Dan Arvizu
Director National Renewable Energy Laboratory Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory Department of Energy
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