Issue Position: Energy and Environment

Issue Position

Environmental sustainability, investments in renewable energy sources, and addressing the causes of climate change must be priorities for our country, our children, and our grandchildren. San Diego is already feeling the impacts of climate change, from increasingly extreme wildfires, rising sea levels, and long-term drought. However, we are at the center of climatic civic engagement and leading the way will help mitigate and prepare for these effects and move our region toward a more sustainable future. San Diego is home to 839 cleantech companies and was recently named one of the top 10 cities in the number of green vehicles. San Diego has the greatest solar photovoltaic adoption rate in California and more than 180 solar energy companies operate in the county.

Working toward sustainable practices has economic benefits, and San Diego is setting the example for other cities through green energy companies and the clean transportation sector, which itself supports approximately 1,050 workers and provides $311 million in economic activity in our region. As a member of the House Sustainable Environment and Energy Coalition, and chair of its Climate Task Force, I am committed to finding solutions to the environmental issues of the day.

In Congress we must be working toward a national strategy that provides abundant, cheap, and clean energy for the future. This cannot rely solely on one source that is not sustainable or environmentally responsible. We must have diversity and be incentivizing projects that move us in the direction of long-term energy independence.

Bills I have introduced:

HR 1943 -- The "SUPER Act' would create a task force to find the most efficient ways to use existing technologies to curb super pollutants like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbon all of which contribute significantly to climate change

Some of the bills I have cosponsored:

H.R. 540 -- "The Energy Efficiency Government Technology Act' would require federal data centers to be energy efficient and use energy saving technologies, which saves money in the long run
H.R. 2689 -- "Energy Savings through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2013,' would push the Federal government by encouraging increased utilization of performance contracts (energy savings performance contracts and utility energy savings contracts) beyond the President's two-year goal.
H.R. 764 -- "Coastal State Climate Change Planning Act,' that would create a climate change mitigation grant program under the Coastal Zone Management Act to help coastal states plan for the impacts of climate change.

Some of the letters I have coauthored:

Along with Congresswoman Davis (CA-53) and Congressman Vargas (CA-51), I sent a letter to the California State Senate to support Governor Brown's budget proposal to clean up the Goat Canyon Sediment Basins at the Border Field State Park.
Coauthored a bipartisan letter to the President asking him to collaborate with Congress to formulate and execute an initiative to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park System. The NPS will turn 100 in 2016.

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