June 26: Fighting for Regional Equity in Federal Energy Policy
July 1, 2009
The Great Lakes states would benefit from creation of a new regionalpower marketing authority thanks to a key amendment that CongresswomanMarcy Kaptur succeeded in placing in the climate change legislationthat the House of Representative passed on Friday evening.The Kaptur amendment, included in the manager’s amendment to H.R. 2484,authorizes the Secretary of Energy to authorize a power marketingauthority with $3.26 billion in additional lending authority. Kaptur, alongtime advocate of alternative energy, said the authority would beused to develop renewable energy sources and spur economic developmentin the Great Lakes region.
“This amendment promotes much-needed regional equity,” saidCongresswoman Kaptur. “The federal government has been subsidizinginfrastructure and economic development in other parts of the countrysince the New Deal. Now it’s our turn. With the Midwest taking thebrunt of the economic crisis, my priority was to bring our regionadditional tools to create jobs and promote energy independence.”
The Kaptur amendment states that within six months of enactment ofthe legislation, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with theSecretary of Commerce, would recommend to Congress establishment of apower marketing authority in any region of the nation that lacks suchan instrument.The amendment also authorizes $25 million in fiscal year 2010 (startingOctober 1, 2009) to implement its provisions.
Kaptur had advocated her idea for a power marketing authoritythrough the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to members ofthe Ohio delegation in the House of Representatives and to keyleadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman, chairmanof the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
“It’s a tough fight,” she said, "but our voice is finally gettingheard. Our region’s economy is still struggling. We must transform andmodernize our few regional federal assets and manufacture theinstrumentalities we need to meet the needs of the new century.Developing renewal power will provide us with greater national securityand economic security while meeting environmental challenges. Ourregion can lead the way, but we need to level the playing field and weneed the federal government as a full partner.”
Read more here:
“This amendment promotes much-needed regional equity,” saidCongresswoman Kaptur. “The federal government has been subsidizinginfrastructure and economic development in other parts of the countrysince the New Deal. Now it’s our turn. With the Midwest taking thebrunt of the economic crisis, my priority was to bring our regionadditional tools to create jobs and promote energy independence.”
The Kaptur amendment states that within six months of enactment ofthe legislation, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with theSecretary of Commerce, would recommend to Congress establishment of apower marketing authority in any region of the nation that lacks suchan instrument.The amendment also authorizes $25 million in fiscal year 2010 (startingOctober 1, 2009) to implement its provisions.
Kaptur had advocated her idea for a power marketing authoritythrough the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to members ofthe Ohio delegation in the House of Representatives and to keyleadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman, chairmanof the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
“It’s a tough fight,” she said, "but our voice is finally gettingheard. Our region’s economy is still struggling. We must transform andmodernize our few regional federal assets and manufacture theinstrumentalities we need to meet the needs of the new century.Developing renewal power will provide us with greater national securityand economic security while meeting environmental challenges. Ourregion can lead the way, but we need to level the playing field and weneed 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
