Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will help grow the U.S. manufacturing base in alternative energy technologies, create jobs and help get our country running on clean energy.

We have known for decades that our Nation's dependence on foreign oil undermines our economic and national security.

According to the Department of Energy, New Hampshire households are some of the most petroleum dependent in the country due to our reliance on heating oil to provide heat. Almost 60 percent of homes in New Hampshire use oil for heating purposes. Many New Hampshire businesses--large and small--are also dependent on heating oil.

In fact, thermal energy, or heat, accounts for roughly 30 percent of total U.S. energy consumption. Thermal energy is used every day by homes, businesses and industrial facilities across the country for a variety of needs--most commonly for space heating, heating water and industrial processes that require heat.

We need to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels and I am convinced that biomass, used effectively and sustainably, can help to do that by, in part, meeting our country's thermal energy needs.

Forests are one of our Nation's greatest assets. In my home State of New Hampshire, the second most forested State in the country, forestry is an important part of our economy. Forestland supports a thriving forest products industry and provides many outdoor recreational opportunities that play a key role in attracting tourists to the State. But I think greater potential exists for our forests in New Hampshire and across the country to help meet our energy challenges--using biomass to meet the heating needs of our homes, businesses and communities.

New Hampshire and a number of other States are already leading the way to address how high efficiency biomass systems can cut our energy dependence on foreign oil and support our forest industry. Communities and businesses across New Hampshire are putting our State's immense biomass resources--from forestry and agricultural residues--to use for creating electricity and thermal energy. These investments in clean, renewable biomass energy are supporting our forest industry and also creating new industries and jobs across New Hampshire.

There is so much untapped potential for biomass energy, and that is what my legislation is about.

The American Renewable Biomass Heating Act would provide an investment tax credit, ITC, of 30 percent of the cost of installing a high efficiency biomass system in commercial and industrial buildings. The tax credit would be available for biomass heating systems placed in service on or before December 31, 2013.

By incentivizing high efficiency biomass boilers and furnaces, we can help to replace our reliance on fossil fuel with clean, domestically produced renewable energy.

This bill would also put biomass on an even playing field with other alternative energy technologies and fuel sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal. Thus far, Federal policies to promote the development and use of alternative energy have focused largely on transportation fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, and electricity from hydro, wind, and solar. My legislation puts high efficiency biomass on an even playing field with other alternative energy technologies.

Most importantly, my legislation will help jumpstart the domestic manufacturing base. For years, European countries have invested in and incentivized the development of these technologies. There is no reason why we cannot build this equipment right here in the U.S.

The bipartisan legislation I am introducing today with Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich and Mike Crapo will provide the incentives businesses are looking for to invest in clean energy. Our legislation is about American power--clean energy technologies and equipment that are made right here in America and create jobs for American workers.

Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues for joining me in introducing this important, job-creating legislation. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass the American Renewable Biomass Heating Act.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record,

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