The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology advanced a bill this week that would authorize the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Wind Energy.
The committee also advanced a bill that calls for investment in research and development to improve gas turbine efficiency. Both pieces of legislation are sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
“As floodwaters rise, wildfires spread and heat waves continue to threaten our communities, technology improvements and energy innovation cannot come soon enough,” Tonko said. “The legislation advanced today will put science and American ingenuity to work to develop technologies that create thousands of jobs and help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”
The Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 (H.R. 3609) would authorize the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Wind Energy for five years. It would direct the Energy Secretary to Improve the energy efficiency of wind energy generation; reduce the cost of permitting, construction, and operation of wind energy systems; conduct a wind energy technology validation and market transformation program; reduce barriers to widespread adoption of wind power including grid integration, permitting issues tied to potential impacts on wildlife, radar systems, and airspace; and develop new wildlife impact mitigation technologies.
It was co-sponsored by Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE).
“Investing in wind power will lower energy bills for consumers and businesses alike, accelerate the growth and viability of new technologies, and increase economic activity including in rural areas,” Tonko added. “This bill will also work to educate local communities about wind energy and lower potential barriers to adopting wind energy.”
The committee also approved the Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 (H.R. 3607), which would authorize the Secretary of Energy to carry out a multiyear program of research, development, and technology demonstration to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in power generation systems. The bill has a target of combined cycle efficiency of 67 percent.
“Energy efficiency should be our fuel of choice. Advancing research and development to improve gas turbine efficiency will reduce carbon pollution and put America in a position to compete for an even greater share of the global energy market while creating more well-paying manufacturing jobs,” Tonko said.
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