Press Release - Cantwell Calls for Changing the National Agenda to Help Make America Energy Independent and Create Jobs in Washington State

Press Release - Cantwell Calls for Changing the National Agenda to Help Make America Energy Independent and Create Jobs in Washington State

Cantwell's Five Point Plan for Energy Independence Would Create More Than a Half Million Family Wage Jobs; Jumpstart Alternative Fuels Industry

VANCOUVER, WA - On Friday in Vancouver, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, President of Columbia Energy Partners Chris Crowley, Director of Great Western Malting Jay Hamachek, and President of New Energy Movement Joel Garbon discussed the need to change the agenda in Washington, D.C. and invest in domestically produced biofuels and alternative energy research to create jobs in Washington and help make American energy independent.

"Through Northwest innovation, we can grow our economy, create jobs, and help break America's dependence on foreign oil," said Cantwell. "The Republican Congress and Bush administration have failed to come up with an effective long-term plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and they're not investing the necessary resources in biofuels and other alternatives that will lead America to becoming energy independent. I think it's time we change the agenda in D.C. and invest in our future. I'd rather bet on our own ingenuity than hope for the future good will of other countries."

Cantwell highlighted her work on smart, forward looking energy alternatives to break our dependence on foreign oil. Cantwell's plan, the Clean EDGE Act would create more than a half million new jobs, boost our country's alternative fuels infrastructure, replace big oil giveaways with incentives for clean energy, reduce harmful emissions, and develop new technologies to reduce oil consumption. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the measure would also reduce the environmental impact of energy production and transportation in the U.S. And it would generate an estimated 531,000 new jobs. Committed to helping make America more energy independent, Cantwell believes that through Northwest innovation, we can create jobs and grow our state's economy, in addition to delivering clean affordable energy for America's households.

"Maria Cantwell's leadership is creating jobs in Southwest Washington and throughout our state," said Chris Crowley, President of Columbia Energy Partners. "Senator Cantwell has pushed for investments in wind power, including groundbreaking incentives for projects like ours to spur job creation and help our environment. Thanks to Maria Cantwell, we'll be handing our children a stronger economy and a cleaner future."

Cantwell is committed to changing the direction of the nation's agenda, and that means changing who controls Congress. We deserve better than a rubberstamp Republican Congress simply going along with this administration's shortsighted agenda. Cantwell's working to change the agenda of Congress to better reflect our priorities.

Friday's event took place at the Hilton in Vancouver, which is just the second hotel in the country to receive LEED green building certification. The hotel has a heat-reflecting roof and carpet made from low-emitting VOC materials, which will improve indoor air quality. In addition to many environmentally-friendly elements, various design features are expected to lower the hotel's energy consumption by 22 percent. The Hilton project upgrades are expected to pay for themselves in less than two years.

This week, Cantwell is traveling the state on the final leg of her "Putting Us First" tour, talking with Washingtonians about her accomplishments and showing her plans to promote and protect our Northwest values.

http://www.cantwell.com/news/release/view/?id=206