U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Presides over Bipartisan Congessional Field Hearing on Utility-Scale Solar Power

(Tuscon, Arizona) U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today called solar energy a practical solution to some of the most significant challenges America will confront in the 21^st century.

"The time for solar is now," Giffords told an audience of 130 attending a bipartisan congressional field hearing on solar energy. "Technologies are improving, costs are falling and the reasons to adopt it are increasingly compelling."

Giffords, who presided over the hearing in her capacity as vice-chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, compared the solar energy industry of today to the early years of space program because of the many positive ways it can shape our future.

"In the coming months and years, we will face critical decisions on how to address climate change, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and boost our economic competitiveness," the Tucson lawmaker said. "The beauty of solar power is that it offers an elegant solution to all three of these pressing concerns."

The goal of the two-hour hearing was to explore the potential of making solar energy a significant source of electric generating capacity in the United States. Giffords and five other members of Congress heard testimony from six expert witnesses who spoke about solar technologies, energy transmission and regulatory issues, and the role of government and the private sector in the development of utility-scale solar power.

"In Arizona, our most abundant renewable resource is sunshine," said Barbara Lockwood, manager of renewable energy at Arizona Public Service Company, the largest electric power utility in Arizona. "The solar resource in Arizona is virtually unlimited, with more than 300 days of sunshine each year."

Lockwood noted that Arizona also has an abundance of flat, wide-open land that is ideal for the installation of large-scale solar equipment, such as the Solana Generating Station that will be constructed 70 miles southwest of Phoenix near Gila Bend. This 280 megawatt solar power plant – consisting of nearly three square miles of parabolic trough mirrors and two steam engines – will soon be able to produce enough electricity to power 70,000 homes.

"APS is committed to making Arizona the solar capital of the world and bringing affordable renewable energy to all customers," Lockwood said.

Also providing testimony were Kate Maracas of Abengoa Solar, the company behind Solana; Mark Mehos of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Tom Hansen of Tucson Electric Power; Valerie Rauluk of Venture Catalyst Inc.; and Joe Kastner of MMA Renewable Ventures.

Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, was joined on the panel by U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell of Arizona, Dan Lipinski of Illinois, Jim Matheson of Utah, and Ralph Hall of Texas. U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, participated by telephone. The hearing was held at the Pima County Administration Building in downtown Tucson.

More information about this hearing, please visit the Committee’s website at www.house.gov/science.