Energy Bill Signed into Law, Including McNerney Geothermal Provision

Press Release

ENERGY BILL SIGNED INTO LAW, INCLUDING MCNERNEY GEOTHERMAL PROVISION

Presidential signature marks major legislative accomplishment for Rep. McNerney

This morning, in a ceremony at the Department of Energy, President Bush signed into law two provisions authored or co-authored by Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11), both of which were introduced in June and incorporated into the ground-breaking energy bill that passed the House yesterday.

This marks a major legislative accomplishment for Rep. McNerney.

The first bill, introduced as H.R. 2304, the Advanced Geothermal Research and Development Act of 2007, will increase research and development funding for 21st century enhanced geothermal energy technology. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) may provide more than 100 Gigawatts of affordable energy over the next 50 years in the U.S. alone, which could power as many as 75 million homes, all with clean, renewable, 100-percent domestic, readily available power.

The second, H.R. 2847, the Green Jobs Act of 2007, Rep. McNerney co-authored with Reps. Solis (D-CA) and Tierney (D-MA). New energy technology exploration and production will lead to significant job growth in the United States, creating a new innovation economy and an entire spectrum of good-paying jobs. The Green Jobs Act provides funding for job training to prepare American workers for jobs focused on developing energy efficient buildings, expanding renewable electric power and biofuels, as well as energy efficient vehicles.

"This energy bill represents a significant step forward in reducing global warming, lowering energy costs, and moving our nation towards energy independence," said Rep. McNerney.

Rep. McNerney continued, "I am particularly pleased that my bill to increase funding for next-generation geothermal energy, which has the potential to produce vast amounts of power cleanly and domestically, has been signed into law. I am also proud that the legislation I introduced with my colleagues to prepare American workers for millions of new energy technology-sector jobs will be implemented."

Karl Gawell, the Executive Director of the Geothermal Energy Association said this of the energy bill and Rep. McNerney's effort to promote geothermal energy: "The Geothermal Energy Association applauds Congress for including the advanced geothermal research provisions in the bill, and in particular Rep. Jerry McNerney for leading these efforts in the House."

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