Issue Position: Clean Energy

Issue Position

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and vice chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), I have made it a top priority to bring clean energy technology to Sacramento and transform our district into a global leader.

In 2006, Sacramento was home to just thirty clean energy companies. That number has now increased to over 230 companies. And from 1996 to 2008, Sacramento posted the highest growth in clean energy in California and now boasts over 14,000 jobs within this sector. Sacramento routinely tops lists when it comes to energy efficiency, advanced transportation, and innovation, and in 2013, Sacramento ranks 6th in the nation on the Clean Tech Leadership Index.

In Congress, I have introduced several bills to promote clean energy jobs and manufacturing in our region. H.R. 400, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act, would boost the competitiveness of the U.S. clean technology industry both domestically and overseas. In order to move our nation towards a clean energy economy we must have a national assistance program that promotes American clean energy technology exports. This legislation does that by assisting small and medium-sized clean technology businesses in finding new markets at home and abroad, thus growing their business and creating additional jobs.

I also introduced H.R. 1138, the Small Business Clean Energy Financing Act, which will help small businesses in the clean energy sector access financing. The Small Business Clean Energy Financing Act will create a loan program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) that would guarantee loans to companies that manufacture clean energy technologies.

In 2012, the U.S. ranked 10th in clean energy investment per dollar of GDP, behind China, all of Europe, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Japan. We cannot let other countries pass us by. We have an historic opportunity to lead the world in this sector in part because of the competitive advantage our region holds. From world-class universities and training facilities, demonstrated consumer support, a range of existing clean tech companies and forward-thinking utilities, Sacramento has what it takes to foster growth in this sector and help jumpstart our local economy.

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