Fattah's Clean Energy Bill Will Ensure Electricity for All

WASHINGTON, March 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) has introduced The Clean Energy Act of 2010 to promote the nation's clean energy and nuclear technologies to ensure adequate electricity for all Americans, including consumers in low-income households and communities.

"We must ensure that all Americans, especially those in low-income families and communities, will have the power they need at prices they can afford," said Congressman Fattah. "This is a pro-consumer bill that will promote further investment and development of the nation's clean energy technologies, including nuclear power and other resources."

Fattah, an eight term veteran legislator from Philadelphia, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus. He is the leading Congressional advocate for efficiency bloc grants, a $3.2 billion program funded thru the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to aid communities across the nation to improve energy efficiency.

"Clean energy works for our cities and our underserved communities," Fattah said. "We must focus on the future of electricity and energy supply, and that includes renewed support for our nuclear industry, solar, and other advanced technologies. It's win-win, because clean energy development means high-skilled jobs and a better way of life in our economy."

The Clean Energy Act of 2010 spends $20 billion over the next 10 to 20 years to develop solar power, bio-fuels and alternative power technologies. It also funds loan guarantees, nuclear education and workforce training assistance and research into nuclear reactor lifetime-extension.

The bill is companion legislation to the Senate's bipartisan Clean Energy Act of 2009, introduced by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has advocated for an increase in funds available for the development of nuclear power facilities and technology.

"I am pleased that Rep. Fattah is committed to furthering The Clean Energy Act in the House," said Senator Jim Webb (D-VA). "The expansion of nuclear and alternative energies is do-able, it is reasonable in scope and cost, it will go a long way toward dramatically reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and it will benefit our economy and national health. I look forward to working with Rep. Fattah to get this effort done this year."

Under the Fattah bill, the Department of Energy will conduct five "Mini-Manhattan Projects" to study carbon capture technologies, non-ethanol bio-fuels, electric vehicles and electricity storage, cost-competitive solar power, and Generation IV reactors and technologies that will ultimately reduce nuclear waste.

One major goal is to keep the United States competitive in world market where nuclear development for electrical power has been accelerated. The legislation provides a framework to help revive nuclear power and the expansion of renewable energies in the United States.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah