Montana Senator Jon Tester’s newest bill cuts red tape, promotes renewable energy. Senator’s bill would create new office in Montana

September 17, 2008

View for printing

On the floor of the U.S. Senate, Jon Tester today outlined his newest legislation, which would cut government red tape and streamline renewable energy projects across the country.

If passed, Tester’s bill will establish a new “Renewable Energy Pilot Project Office” in Montana and five other states to help energy developers get federal permits for renewable energy projects and transmission lines.

“In Montana, several alternative energy projects have been held up by the federal government. Why? Because of too much red tape,” Tester said while explaining his bill on the Senate floor today.

“In the 2005 Energy Bill, we created an oil and gas pilot project to speed up on-shore oil and gas exploration and drilling,” Tester said. “It’s worked. If we put the same focus on renewable energy that we have on oil and gas, we’d be in a different spot here today. And we won’t run out of renewables like we will with oil.”

The Renewable Energy Pilot Project Offices will be housed in existing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices. Tester’s legislation requires the U.S. Energy and Interior Secretaries to decide which BLM offices to use in Montana, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Wyoming. The bill also allows each Renewable Energy Pilot Project Office to hire additional employees to help renewable energy developers get federal permits.

“Renewable energy projects will generate good jobs here in America while creating sustainable energy supply at affordable prices for consumers,” Tester said. “Americans deserve no less. It’s a matter of national and economic security.”

Tester is a member of the Senate Energy Committee. He introduced his legislation as part of his three-part energy plan http://tester.senate.gov/Legislation/energy.cfm , which emphasizes renewable energy development, responsible oil drilling, and cracking down on out-of-control oil speculators.

Tester’s legislation will be included in an overall energy plan, which the Senate is working on this week.

Tester’s legislation, S. 3463, is available online HERE http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/ ... ~c110e96z84 . His floor speech, as prepared for delivery, appears below.

###

Senator Jon Tester

Floor Remarks

September 17, 2008

Prepared for Delivery

Mr. President, this week our attention turns back to another pressing issue: energy.

It’s long past time for a common-sense policy with short-term and long-term solutions. America deserves no less. After all, it’s a matter of national and economic security.

Securing our energy future will free America from being held hostage to foreign producers like Russia, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

And renewable energy projects will generate good jobs here in America while creating sustainable energy supply at affordable prices for consumers.

I’ve spoken many times on this floor about the need to drill for more oil in parts of our country that make sense, like the Bakken Formation in Eastern Montana.

I’ve called on my colleagues to work together and crack down on speculators who artificially drive up the price of oil.

And of course, I’ve spoken about the need to conserve, and to invest in alternative and renewable energy for the future.

That’s why I rise today, Mr. President.

In Montana, several alternative energy projects have been held up by the federal government. Why? Too much red tape.

And this administration has cut staff and resources—just when we need them the most.

That’s why I am introducing legislation that will help get renewable energy projects approved faster. The measure will cut through the red tape that slows down too many of these innovative and important projects.

My bill will make it easier for the folks who are figuring out how to use new technology to solve the energy crisis while also cutting down on greenhouse gases.

It would create as many as six Renewable Energy Pilot Project offices across the country to coordinate federal permits for renewable energy projects and transmission lines.

Mr. President, this legislation is only one part of the puzzle, but it’s a pretty important piece.

In the 2005 Energy Bill, we created oil and gas pilot projects to speed up on-shore oil and gas exploration and drilling. It’s worked.

If we put the same focus on renewable energy that we have on oil and gas, we’d be in a different spot today. And we won’t run out of renewables like we will with oil.

I appreciate the work that many of my colleagues have been doing to develop a bipartisan energy proposal. I support this work. And I call on the Senate to work together to pass common sense solutions to this energy crisis.

We can’t put all our eggs in one basket. Energy security requires a mix of solutions. And it’s not going to happen overnight. But every day we delay is another day that we continue to rely on foreign energy.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.
No reader comments so far. Be the first to comment by clicking the button below.