June 26: Fighting for Regional Equity in Federal Energy Policy
June 26, 2009
The Kaptur amendment, included in the manager’s amendment to H.R. 2484, authorizes the Secretary of Energy to authorize a power marketing authority with $3.26 billion in additional lending authority. Kaptur, a longtime advocate of alternative energy, said the authority would be used to develop renewable energy sources and spur economic development in the Great Lakes region.
“This amendment promotes much-needed regional equity,” said Congresswoman Kaptur. “The federal government has been subsidizing infrastructure and economic development in other parts of the country since the New Deal. Now it’s our turn. With the Midwest taking the brunt of the economic crisis, my priority was to bring our region additional tools to create jobs and promote energy independence.”
The Kaptur amendment states that within six months of enactment of the legislation, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, would recommend to Congress establishment of a power marketing authority in any region of the nation that lacks such an instrument. The amendment also authorizes $25 million in fiscal year 2010 (starting October 1, 2009) to implement its provisions.
Kaptur had advocated her idea for a power marketing authority through the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to members of the Ohio delegation in the House of Representatives and to key leadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman, chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
“It’s a tough fight,” she said, "but our voice is finally getting heard. Our region’s economy is still struggling. We must transform and modernize our few regional federal assets and manufacture the instrumentalities we need to meet the needs of the new century. Developing renewal power will provide us with greater national security and economic security while meeting environmental challenges. Our region can lead the way, but we need to level the playing field and we need the federal government as a full partner.”
Read more here:
“This amendment promotes much-needed regional equity,” said Congresswoman Kaptur. “The federal government has been subsidizing infrastructure and economic development in other parts of the country since the New Deal. Now it’s our turn. With the Midwest taking the brunt of the economic crisis, my priority was to bring our region additional tools to create jobs and promote energy independence.”
The Kaptur amendment states that within six months of enactment of the legislation, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, would recommend to Congress establishment of a power marketing authority in any region of the nation that lacks such an instrument. The amendment also authorizes $25 million in fiscal year 2010 (starting October 1, 2009) to implement its provisions.
Kaptur had advocated her idea for a power marketing authority through the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to members of the Ohio delegation in the House of Representatives and to key leadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman, chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
“It’s a tough fight,” she said, "but our voice is finally getting heard. Our region’s economy is still struggling. We must transform and modernize our few regional federal assets and manufacture the instrumentalities we need to meet the needs of the new century. Developing renewal power will provide us with greater national security and economic security while meeting environmental challenges. Our region can lead the way, but we need to level the playing field and we need the federal government as a full partner.”
Read more here:
- "Kaptur's Amendment increases lending to Great Lakes " -- Toledo on the Move
- The Washington Times
