On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, of which Senator Coons is a member, held two hearings on closely related issues important to our long-term security and economic prosperity.
The morning hearing focused on energy efficiency and examined two bills Chris has cosponsored. The first one, the Reducing Federal Energy Dollars Act (S. 963), was sponsored by Senator Tom Carper and would help improve the energy efficiency of federal agencies and the government buildings and facilities that house their offices. The second is the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 1000). That bill would strengthen building codes, set new efficiency standards for appliances, encourage more efficient manufacturing, and require certain federal investments in energy efficiency.. Together, these bills will help increase our use of renewable energy.
Delaware is already at the forefront of clean energy technology development. By partnering government and the private sector, making strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and research, Delaware is becoming a regional center for high-tech and clean energy innovation. Chris has already sponsored efforts similar to this in Delaware, instituting energy audits to identify potential gains in efficiency at New Castle County buildings among other conservation measures.
In a second hearing Thursday afternoon, Chris and other Committee members listened to expert testimony regarding rare earth minerals, their critical position in the economy, and the need to secure our access to these increasingly critical resources. Today, despite controlling less than half of the estimated global reserves of rare earth minerals, China produces nearly all of them. A monopoly by any one nation over the production of rare earth minerals has serious long-term strategic implications, particularly because certain rare earth minerals are used in the production of clean energy technology components, such as wind turbines. This will have significant implications for Delaware high-tech manufacturers over the long term.
Chris has spoken frequently about the importance of alternative energy research, development, and deployment, which he cites as critical not only for our long-term economic competitiveness but also to Delaware’s economy. He believes that we need to reduce our dependence on foreign imports of fossil fuels and develop an array of clean, domestic energy technologies. Increasing energy efficiency is a central component of this strategy because the savings represent a large domestic source of energy. By pursuing a combined strategy of energy efficiency and a secure supply of key manufacturing resources, we can help foster and sustain the kind of innovation-based economic growth and job creation that will enable us to continue competing in the global marketplace and win the future.
To learn more about Chris’s work on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, click here.