WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) on Wednesday applauded the increased investments in alternative energy research, development, and deployment contained in President Obama’s FY2012 budget, describing them not only as important to the nation’s long-term competitiveness, but important to Delaware’s economic future.
“The rapidly growing clean-energy sector represents an opportunity to revitalize and sustain Delaware’s permanent base of manufacturing jobs,” Senator Coons said. “Delaware has long been on the cutting edge of alternative energy research, so I’m encouraged by the President’s commitment to that area. This will lead to more jobs in Delaware and further economic growth for our nation.”
Questioning U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu, at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Wednesday, Senator Coons highlighted the budget’s $650 million budget in funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy as imperative for continuing to drive innovation and keeping America globally competitive.
“Secretary Chu was right when he described ARPA-E’s work as ‘game-changing,’” Senator Coons said after the hearing. “By leading and investing in critical research, the government is doing its part to stimulate technological innovation and encourage private-sector job creation.”
During the hearing, Senator Coons highlighted Delaware’s leadership in the area of wind energy research and inquired about how the budget’s investments in offshore wind could help expedite deployment of the technology off Delaware’s shores. In response, Secretary Chu explained that the Department of Energy’s priorities were investments to make the technology more reliable while lowering the startup costs of such projects.
Senator Coons also praised funding for the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, which he had highlighted during his maiden speech on the Senate floor as an important measure for promoting clean-energy manufacturing in Delaware and throughout the country. The program expired at the end of 2010, but the President’s FY2012 budget proposal calls for reviving the program with a $5 billion investment.
“As we look for ways to reduce our deficit and cut the federal government’s spending, it’s important that we remain committed to building a stronger, more competitive future for our country,” Senator Coons said. “Investing in education and innovation is essential to our long-term growth.”