Energy and Environment Subcommittee - H.R. 3246, H.R. 3165, H.R. 3029, H.R. 3247

Opening Statement By Chairman Brian Baird

This afternoon the Subcommittee will consider four bills. H.R. 3246, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009 is authored by Rep. Peters and co-sponsored by Rep. Biggert of our Subcommittee. This legislation authorizes research and development on different classes of vehicles with a goal of reducing or eliminating petroleum fuel use and their associated emissions.

H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009 is authored by our colleague, Mr. Tonko. This legislation authorizes several areas of research identified in a recent report outlining the needs for expanding the use of wind powered electricity generation.

H.R. 3029, is also authored by Rep. Tonko. This bill establishes an R&D program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle power generation systems. Today, 15 percent of our electric power is produced from natural gas.
This percentage is predicted to double over the next decade. The investment costs for new power plants are very high and, once built they operate for many decades. It is vital that we build them to be as efficient as possible from the outset.

Finally, we will be marking up H.R. 3247. I introduced H.R. 3247 last week to authorize a social and behavioral research program at the Department of Energy. Technology development and investment are only part of the solution to our energy problem. The decisions each of us make every day have a significant impact on energy production and consumption. It is important that we understand why some technologies are more readily embraced than others. And it is important that we know how to communicate effectively about the nature of our energy challenges and know how to empower individual citizens to participate in overcoming them.

The four bills we will consider today address important energy technology needs and the need for more research on the human factors that determine their acceptance and success.

I look forward to a productive markup. Thank you all for your attendance and participation this afternoon.
 

• H.R. 3246, Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009
• H.R. 3165, Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009
• H.R. 3029, To establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle power generation systems
• H.R. 3247, To establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes